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.
Continue reading Law in ElectionsAuthor: Hannah Emberts
Law School Insider: The First Weeks of Law School – 1L Insights
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!
Continue reading Law School Insider: The First Weeks of Law School – 1L InsightsSpring 2025 Course Recommendations
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.
Continue reading Spring 2025 Course RecommendationsAlumni Attorney Talks | Benjamin Boris
Continue reading Alumni Attorney Talks | Benjamin BorisAlumni 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 | Peter Miles
Continue reading Alumni Attorney Talks | Peter MilesAlumni 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.
Beyond the JD – Alternative Routes to Legal Education
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:
- More relaxed admission requirements (no LSAT).
- Shorter curriculums (2-3 semesters/30 credits) compared to JD programs (6 semesters).
- 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!
Continue reading Beyond the JD – Alternative Routes to Legal EducationAlumni Attorney Talks | Priya Thennarasu
Continue reading Alumni Attorney Talks | Priya ThennarasuAlumni 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 | John Kocoras
Continue reading Alumni Attorney Talks | John KocorasAlumni 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.
Law School Insider | Legal Writing
Continue reading Law School Insider | Legal WritingWelcome to Law School Insider! This newest installment of our series will feature insights from the PLAS Graduate Assistant about different aspects of the law school experience, highlighting the differences between law school and college over a variety of topics including classes, extracurriculars activities, finals, and more.
Law School Insider | Legal Research
Continue reading Law School Insider | Legal ResearchWelcome to Law School Insider! This unique blog series features insights from the PLAS Graduate Assistant about different aspects of the law school experience, highlighting the differences between law school and college over a variety of topics including classes, extracurricular activities, finals, and more!