With guest authors Carter Cohen '25 and Elizabeth King '26.
There are many internship opportunities available to students interested in law, and they come in both legal and non-legal forms. Legal internships, like those with law firms or a legal-focused non-profit, provide direct exposure to legal procedures and casework. Government internships, like those in courts, or government agencies, provide experience in courtrooms or crafting public policy. Non-legal internships, such as those in corporations, can also be highly valuable in developing core skills and providing practical experience in fields that overlap with law.
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.
As the 2024 election day officially arrives, we wanted to focus on how elections and law interrelate in the field of election law. Election law is a branch of public law that governs the democratic process, dealing with everything from the election of representatives and office holders to referendums, and most importantly, safeguarding your voting rights. Election law is a vast area dating back to the earliest points of our democratic history and continuing today. Within these broad areas, there are numerous sub-topics that attorneys in the field handle.
Law school is an experience that is very difficult to fully explain or to comprehend until you actually experience it. One of the best ways to get better understanding is to hear directly from those who have experienced law school. As we have now reached the mid-part of the fall semester, we recently reached out to Illinois alumni that have just started their first semester to see how their experience at law school has been going during their first few weeks. As new 1Ls, they provided excellent insight as to some of the critical differences between college and law school, when it comes to a new type of workload, classes, and responsibilities. Keep reading to hear from four of our accomplished Illini alums on their experiences over the first couple of weeks of law school!
It’s time to get excited about Spring courses! Each semester we receive many questions from pre-law students regarding courses helpful in preparation for law school.. Pre-Law Advising has made a helpful chart with suggested classes pre-law students might find useful and interesting when planning and exploring a legal education.
In general, students interested in going to law school should take classes that focus on analytical and critical thinking, communication, research and writing, and when possible – legal topics of interest. The recommended course list includes classes from many disciplines that might serve one or more of these goals. Look at the chart to find courses that interest you and will help build the necessary skills for law school.
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.
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.
While most students think of a Juris Doctor or Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) as the only way to pursue further studies in law, there are alternative post-graduate degrees available for those who are interested in the law but do not wish to pursue a J.D. Many law schools now offer masters-level law degrees. These degrees are designed for individuals who want to pursue a legal education but are not interested in becoming a licensed attorney. These degrees are known by many names, including a Master of Studies in Law (MSL), a Master of Legal Studies (MLS), and a Juris Masters (JM).
LLM degrees are unique to other master-level programs. LLM degrees are for individuals who have already earned a J.D. degree in the United States or a first law degree in another country.
Masters-level law programs can vary extensively in focus and specialty depending upon the respective program; however, they all tend to share these common traits:
An ability to select coursework which reflects unique interests (though the extent of specialization can vary).
More cost effective than a traditional JD.
More specifically tailored for current professionals who may utilize legal document, work with regulation/policy, or frequently assist legal professionals, but do not wish to become an attorney.
Some programs are designed for specific professions that frequently interact with legal professionals, such as paralegals or expert witnesses. Other programs emphasize niche areas of the law for those who may work in an area heavily subsumed with that type of law such as human resources or business. Finally, some programs are more focused on breadth, introducing students to a variety of common legal topics such as criminal law and contracts. If considering a master-level program it is important to consider the career paths and opportunities this unique degree will offer.
Keep reading for additional insights and examples of these unique educational programs!
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.
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.
