Northern Illinois University College of Law has a rich history of excellence in legal education, cutting edge research, and public service. We are at the heart of a diverse and active university campus of over 20,000 in DeKalb, Illinois, on the western edge of the Chicago metropolitan area, which is home to over 10 million residents and one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies – with more than 400 major corporate headquarters, including 31 in the Fortune 500.

NIU Law is a leader in experiential education. We take our courses outside the classroom – offering a range of clinics and externship placements with government agencies, civil and criminal courts, prosecutors, and other public interest employers.  We also offer extensive opportunities for practical training in trial advocacy, appellate practice, alternative dispute resolution and negotiation skills.

Our faculty of distinguished legal scholars put teaching first. Small class sizes and student-faculty ratios allow students to engage faculty directly, and our alumni network of NIU Law graduates as well as NIU alums in a wide variety of fields stands ready to help network, identify employment opportunities, and become a member of the legal profession following graduation.

Consider the following reasons to begin your legal career at NIU Law:

• Excellent student/teacher ratio and small class sizes, allowing for livelier class discussions, as well as personalized attention to your education.
• Low tuition rate for both Illinois and out-of-state U.S. Residents.
• Skills-based curriculum where students gain legal experience through a variety of skills courses, externships and legal clinics.
• Located on a vibrant college campus just over an hour from Chicago, one of the nation’s largest legal markets.
• Consistently strong employment rates for our graduates in a variety of legal settings.