Why University of Illinois Chicago School of Law?

As Chicago's only public law school, UIC Law offers a unique interdisciplinary environment for students to advance social justice and impact their communities through nationally recognized experiential learning.

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law is a less selective JD program with an acceptance rate of approximately 66.4%. The median entering 1L profile is a 3.40 GPA and 152 LSAT, with the 25th–75th percentile bands at 3.13–3.64 GPA and 149–154 LSAT. The full-time first-year class is approximately 343 students. Recent graduates have placed most heavily in Illinois, Michigan, and Pennsylvania — useful context if your geographic preference shapes your school list. In the 2025 ABA reporting cycle, University of Illinois Chicago School of Law admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class.

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Specialty strengths

Intellectual Property LawTrial Advocacy & Dispute ResolutionLawyering SkillsInternational Human Rights LawHealth Equity, Law & Policy

Class profile

US News rank: #167
Median GPA: 3.40; 25th–75th: 3.13–3.64
Median LSAT: 152; 25th–75th: 149–154
Acceptance rate: 66.4%
Class size (FT 1L): 343
Transfers admitted (2025): 1; ABA 2025 reporting cycle

2025 transfer admit profile

Actual GPAs of students University of Illinois Chicago School of Law admitted as transfers in the 2025 ABA cycle.

25th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)
Median: —; 50th percentile
75th percentile: —; Suppressed (small cohort)

Top employment markets

1Illinois
2Michigan
3Pennsylvania

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 University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's practical training. Mention specific clinic names in your "Why University of Illinois Chicago School of Law" essay where they align with your interests.

Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic
Assists individuals from underserved communities in starting or growing cooperatives and community-based businesses.
Fair Housing Legal Support Center & Clinic
Represents persons who have been denied housing in violation of federal, state, and local fair housing laws.
International Human Rights Clinic
Advocates for human rights in international and domestic tribunals and other forums.
IP Trademark Clinic
Students gain practical experience searching, clearing, and prosecuting trademark applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Pro Bono Litigation Clinic
Represents individuals in federal and state courts in criminal and civil matters.
Veterans Legal Clinic
Provides legal assistance to veterans who have been improperly denied benefits.

Notable journals

Student-edited publications you could write for or cite as a research interest.

UIC Law Review— Publishes scholarly works on a broad range of legal topics.
UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law— Publishes scholarly work in the intellectual property field.

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.

Renee Hatcher
Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy
Michael P. Seng
Fair Housing Law
Paul B. Lewis
International Law
Yolanda M. King
Intellectual Property, Information and Privacy Law
J. Damian Ortiz
Pro Bono Litigation
Steven D. Schwinn
Constitutional Law
Debra Pogrund Stark
Domestic Violence, Tort Law
Hugh Michael Mundy
Criminal Sentencing, Law Reviews
Kim D. Ricardo
Public Interest, Experiential Education
Yelena Duterte
Veterans Affairs, Animal Law

What makes University of Illinois Chicago School of Law distinctive

Programs, history, or institutional features that set this school apart beyond rank.

·Chicago's only public law school, offering an interdisciplinary environment leveraging the wider university's strengths.
·Nationally recognized Lawyering Skills Program, consistently ranked in the top 10 by U.S. News & World Report.
·Required experiential learning, ensuring all students gain practical experience through clinics or externships.
·Located in the heart of downtown Chicago's legal district, providing proximity to courthouses and legal institutions.
·Offers flexible JD program options including full-time, part-time day, and part-time evening tracks, with the ability to shift between them.
·Debuted a new first-year antiracist curriculum in Fall 2021, enhancing the core curriculum with pedagogical training on comprehensive client challenges.

Using this for your "Why University of Illinois Chicago School of Law" 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 University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

What is the median GPA and LSAT at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's most recent entering 1L class had a median GPA of 3.40 and a median LSAT of 152. The 25th–75th percentile range was 3.13–3.64 GPA and 149–154 LSAT. Per ABA 509 disclosures.

What is University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's acceptance rate?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's most recent reported acceptance rate was approximately 66.4%, per ABA 509 disclosures.

What clinics does University of Illinois Chicago School of Law offer?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's notable clinical programs include: Community Enterprise & Solidarity Economy Clinic, Fair Housing Legal Support Center & Clinic, International Human Rights Clinic, IP Trademark Clinic, Pro Bono Litigation Clinic. Visit the school's official clinical programs page for the full list.

What journals does University of Illinois Chicago School of Law publish?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law's notable student-edited journals include: UIC Law Review, UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law.

Where do University of Illinois Chicago School of Law graduates work?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law graduates concentrate employment in Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, per the school's most recent ABA 509 employment summary.

How many transfer students does University of Illinois Chicago School of Law admit?▾

University of Illinois Chicago School of Law admitted 1 transfer student into the 2L class in the 2025 ABA reporting cycle.

Schools similar to University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

Other schools at a comparable rank tier — useful for building a transfer list, balanced 0L application list, or essay-research shortlist.

#168

New England Law | Boston

GPA 3.37 · LSAT 154

#168

St. Thomas University (florida)

GPA 3.42 · LSAT 156

#168

Willamette University

GPA 3.48 · LSAT 154

#164

Ave Maria School of Law

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Sources (9) — verify any fact above

Generated from public sources via search-grounded AI on 4/27/2026. If any fact looks wrong, click through to verify and let us know.