Gabriela Brunner – Pre-Law Advising Services Blog

Application Readiness: Early Decision Programs

Law School Admissions Early Decision (ED) programs* provide a unique admissions pathway for many applicants each year. ED programs can offer some strategic advantages but are not necessarily the right fit for every applicant. If you are thinking about ED programs, start by reading the information and tips below. The more you understand, the easier it will be to decide if this is the right path for you!

*Interested applicants should verify Early Decision (ED) program details directly with each law school for the current law admissions cycle.

Pages: 12

2025 – 2026 PLAS Year in Review

The 2025–2026 academic year was once again both demanding and rewarding, marked by numerous achievements alongside the expected challenges of navigating the undergraduate experience, professional opportunities, and another highly competitive admissions cycle. We are incredibly proud of the perseverance, resilience, and successes demonstrated by our Illini pre-law students and alumni throughout the year and congratulate our entire Illini pre-law community on another fantastic year!

On behalf of PLAS, we thank our Illinois pre-law student & alumni leaders, law expert volunteers, and all who supported our pre-law Illini this academic year! Per tradition, we have compiled highlights from the year to celebrate all that has been achieved. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to enjoy and celebrate with us as the academic year draws to a close!

Check out this year’s highlights in the video below!

Read below for some highlights from this year!

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.

Fall 2025 – Exploring Gap Year Opportunities

Taking time to explore opportunities before law school can make a meaningful difference in your journey—personally, academically, and professionally. Whether you choose to go “straight through” or take one or more “gap years,” it’s worth considering how extra time and experience might strengthen your application and set you up for long-term success in law school and beyond.

Explore the resources below to help you decide which path is right for you!

2025 – 2026 Pre-Law Student Orgs

Are you looking to get involved? Do you want to connect with other pre-law students? Explore the details and highlights of the University of Illinois pre-law student organizations!

Welcome Back, Pre-Law Illini!

Whether you are a returning student or are new to our campus, on behalf of the entire Pre-Law Advising Team, welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!

Pre-Law Preview Part I | Tips and Reflections from Upper-Level Pre-Law Students

PART I

As we reach the mid-point of the summer, we know that many of our incoming and new Illini students will begin thinking about the upcoming academic year. Whether you are a returning student new to pre-law or a new student looking to begin your first semester on campus; we know that this is often both an incredibly exciting, but also overwhelming time. To help prepare for this exciting new chapter, we asked our 2025-2026 Advisory Council members to share some of their perspectives and advice about their time at Illinois.

From favorite spots on campus to tips on favorite classes, to their best advice for those wishing to step into the pre-law path at Illinois, we hope these insights will help you as you plan for the upcoming year at Illinois! Check out the answers below to gain first-hand perspectives from upper-level pre-law students and be sure to stay tuned for Part II of our Pre-Law Preview series later this summer for insights on our full list of topics!

We can’t wait to connect with you this Fall!

Application Planning: Summer To-Do List

The law application process can feel overwhelming at times. The good news is that we are here to break the process down into actionable, bite-sized pieces to support your success on this journey. Summer can be a great time to lay the foundation for a successful (and less stressful!) application season!

Below are recommendations on how to prioritize your summer application work. We look forward to supporting you throughout this process.

2024-2025 Pre-Law Year In Review

The 2024 – 2025 academic year was busy and filled with many successes and inevitable challenges, including a highly competitive admissions cycle. We are proud of the determination, resilience, and accomplishments of all our Illini pre-law students and alumni this year!

watch the 2024-2025 pre-law year in review video

We thank our UIUC pre-law student & alumni leaders, law expert volunteers, and all those who helped support our over 2000 pre-law Illini this academic year!

Read below for some highlights from this year!

Well-Being Week in Law

A Good Lawyer is a Healthy Lawyer

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this week (May 5-9) is Well-Being in Law Week. Hosted by the Institute for Well-Being in Law (IWIL), Well-Being in Law Week aims to raise awareness, provide tools, and resources to establish well-being as a defining feature of professional success in the legal profession.