Why Southern Illinois University?
Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School offers a personalized legal education with a strong emphasis on practical skills and community service, particularly through its diverse clinical programs.
Southern Illinois University is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 56.7%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.38 GPA and 150 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 2.93–3.78 GPA and 147–153 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 89 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. Southern Illinois University admitted few or zero transfer students in the most recent reporting cycle — transfer-in slots are extremely limited.
Specialty strengths
Class profile
- US News rank
- Unranked
- Not numerically ranked by US News
- Median GPA
- 3.38
- 25th–75th: 2.93–3.78
- Median LSAT
- 150
- 25th–75th: 147–153
- Acceptance rate
- 56.7%
- Class size (FT 1L)
- 89
- Transfers admitted (2025)
- 0
- ABA 2025 reporting cycle
Top employment markets
- 1Illinois
- 2Missouri
- 3Indiana
Where the most recent graduating class concentrated employment, per the school's ABA 509 employment summary. Use this as a signal of where the alumni network and OCI recruiting pipeline are strongest.
Signature clinics
Clinical programs that define Southern Illinois University's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why Southern Illinois University" essay where they align with your interests.
- Civil Practice/Elderly ClinicStudents provide civil legal services to individuals aged 60 and over in southern Illinois, covering areas like estate planning, guardianships, and public benefits.
- Juvenile Justice ClinicStudents represent the best interests of minors for whom neglect, abuse, or dependency petitions have been filed in Jackson County, Illinois.
- Veterans' Legal Assistance ProgramThis program provides legal assistance to veterans.
- Immigration Law Clinical CourseThis new clinical course focuses on providing legal information and resources to noncitizens in civil immigration detention.
Notable journals
Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.
- Southern Illinois University Law Journal— The flagship journal committed to legal scholarship of the highest order, publishing online quarterly.
- Journal of Legal Medicine— Focuses on the intersection of law and medicine.
Faculty highlights
Well-known faculty grouped by primary specialty. If a professor's scholarship aligns with your interests, name them in your essay and reference a specific paper or course.
Dean and Hiram H. Lesar Professor of Law
- Hannah Brenner Johnson· also focusing on inequality in the legal profession and disparate power dynamics.
Associate Dean and Professor of Law.
- Angela Upchurch
Professor of Law.
- Christopher Behan
Professor of Law
- Cindy Buys· also involved in the new immigration law clinical course.
Assistant Professor of Law
- Brandy Johnson· also teaching Disability Law, Torts, Workers' Compensation, Health Law, Bioethics, and Medical Malpractice.
- Kaitlyn Poirier· also specializing in environmental and administrative law.
Clinical Assistant Professor of Law
- Martin Parsons· also overseeing the Veterans' Legal Assistance Program.
Assistant Professor
- Dale Aschemann· also overseeing mobile legal clinics for seniors.
What makes Southern Illinois University distinctive
Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.
- ·Guaranteed opportunity for JD students to participate in a legal clinic or field placement experience.
- ·Offers a unique JD/MD (Doctor of Medicine) joint degree program, one of about 15 in the country.
- ·Low student-to-faculty ratio (13-to-1) fostering a personalized learning environment.
- ·Offers a Two-Year Honors scheduling option for eligible JD students.
- ·Located on the edge of the 280,000-acre Shawnee National Forest, providing a unique setting for study.
Using this for your "Why Southern Illinois University" essay
Strong "Why X Law School" essays are concrete and specific to the school — not interchangeable templates. Use these facts to anchor your essay, then layer on what you've found from the school's own faculty pages, clinical program descriptions, and journal listings.
Important note: admissions committees actively reject AI-written personal statements and "Why X" essays. Use this page as research material to write your own essay — never as a template to copy. Authentic, specific, personally-grounded reasoning is the only thing that wins these essays.
Frequently asked about Southern Illinois University
What is the median GPA and LSAT at Southern Illinois University?▾
Southern Illinois University's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.38 and a median LSAT of 150. The 25th–75th percentile range was 2.93–3.78 GPA and 147–153 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.
What is Southern Illinois University's acceptance rate?▾
Southern Illinois University's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 56.7%, per ABA 509 disclosures.
What clinics does Southern Illinois University offer?▾
Southern Illinois University's notable clinical programs include: Civil Practice/Elderly Clinic, Juvenile Justice Clinic, Veterans' Legal Assistance Program, Immigration Law Clinical Course. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.
What journals does Southern Illinois University publish?▾
Southern Illinois University's notable student-edited journals include: Southern Illinois University Law Journal, Journal of Legal Medicine.
Where do Southern Illinois University graduates work?▾
Southern Illinois University graduates concentrate employment in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.
Schools similar to Southern Illinois University
Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.
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