December 2025 – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

Alumni Attorney Talk | Kurt Reitz

Alumni Attorney Talks is a virtual series that aims to provide prospective law students with helpful insights about attending law school and pursuing a legal career. This series features interviews with University of Illinois alumni working in a variety of diverse settings within the legal profession.

Legal Traditions: Part I

Introduction

The legal field can be confusing for many people, and understandably so, it is full of unfamiliar terminology, rules, and traditions. Future lawyers attend law school to study the law, learning about how the legal system operates, developing skills necessary to be successful advocates for their clients, and developing the ability to “think like a lawyer”. The American legal system is rooted in common law, which thrives on tradition, utilizing concepts created hundreds of years ago that continue to serve as foundations for the modern system today. Through our two-part series, we have chosen to briefly explore four legal “traditions” commonly referenced in the news, literature, media, undergraduate classroom, and beyond.

Continue reading below to learn more about the first two in this series: jury trials and due process. We encourage you to start here and explore more about these important tenets of U.S. law!

2025 Pre-Law Wellness Week

Welcome to the second annual Pre-Law Wellness Week! The Pre-Law Advising Services Office is excited to continue the important conversation on Wellness in the Legal Profession. This week, we are going deeper into the importance of sleep and movement as cornerstones for your health and wellness. We will also be sharing helpful tips to help you learn how to build habits to support you as a student and future attorney.