All About The University Of Chicago Law School Believes In Teaching Based On The Interdisciplinary Education System. And Information About Interdisciplinary Education System, Public Interest Careers, Post-Graduate Opportunities And More.

1. LAW SCHOOL PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, IL
[By Heather Jung]
The University of Chicago Law School believes in teaching based on the interdisciplinary education system. This method
blends the study of law with studies in humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. According to the school’s website, this
devotion to interdisciplinary education stems from the “conviction that the law does not exist in a vacuum; we can understand
the law and legal methods only if we understand both how the law affects the behavior of the society it governs and how the
law reflects the values of that society.” Faculty members are not only lawyers but also philosophers, historians, economists, and
medical doctors.
Because of its interdisciplinary approach under the semester system, but students Neighbors (a public service group that
to teaching, many people believed the have three sets of classes and professors helps the Hyde Park neighborhood), Scales
school would fail when it first opened in each year instead of two. of Justice (an a cappella group), and Law
1902. Today, however, it is a Top 10 law School Musical (a student show that features
school, and the interdisciplinary method Prospective students are often concerned new lyrics put together with familiar tunes
is widespread. In his letter to prospective about the number of exams they will have and original dialogue to create a parody of
students, Dean Saul Levmore describes the to take during the first year. The school’s law school life).
drastic changes the school has undergone website assures students that they will not
during its first 100 years: have more exams than first-years at any In an effort to alleviate growing educational
other school. Some classes will overlap problems in the United States, the law school
“In our first century, we evolved from from quarter to quarter, so students will has partnered with Teach for America,
an upstart school with five teachers, 75 sometimes have two professors but only one a national corps of college graduates
students, a small set of courses, and no exam. During the first quarter, students dedicated to helping students in inner-city
building into a place that is at the leading have two exams. During the second and schools reach their full potential. Through
edge of legal education, with interdisciplinary third quarters, students have three exams, the program, college graduates (of various
approaches, an amazingly productive faculty, with the possibility of a fourth during the majors) commit themselves to teaching at
and a formidable library. Our graduates go third quarter, depending on the electives urban schools for two years. In order to
on in record numbers to clerk for leading they choose to take. encourage graduates to participate in this
judges, to build businesses, to teach, program, University of Chicago Law School
and, of course, to practice law. We begin Because University of Chicago Law School is offers several incentives: a two-year loan
this second century with newly renovated a Top 10 law school, admissions are highly deferment for those who are accepted into
classrooms, public policy initiatives that seek competitive. The admissions office expects the program, application fee waivers for
your involvement, a new program supporting 5,000 applicants for the 190 to 195 class- Teach for America teachers and alumni
public interest careers, and post-graduate of-2010 spots. The average undergraduate interested in attending the school, and
opportunities that are second to none.” GPA for incoming students is 3.66, and the scholarships for qualified participants.
average LSAT score is 171.
In addition to employing a unique teaching Since opening its doors, the school has had
approach, the University of Chicago Law The school offers numerous opportunities for some very distinguished alumni. Some of
School is one of the few law schools in the students to get involved. It is home to three the nation’s most influential and prominent
country that use the quarter system rather legal clinics: the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid lawyers and politicians obtained their J.D.s
than the semester system. While initially Clinic, the Immigrant Children’s Advocacy at the school. University of Chicago Law
a source of concern for many students, the Project, and the Institute for Justice Clinic on School’s list of notable alumni includes
quarter system has its distinct advantages. Entrepreneurship. The clinics give students former U.S. Attorney Generals John Ashcroft
Since quarters are shorter than semesters, hands-on experience under the supervision and Ramsey Clark; the first openly gay U.S.
the university can offer three to four sessions of clinical teachers. There are also more ambassador, James Hormel; and Carol
of a class each year. The overall amount than 50 student organizations and activities, Moseley-Braun, the first African-American
of time spent in school is the same as it is including Amicus (for married students), woman elected to the Senate.
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2. LAW SCHOOL PROFILE www.lawcrossing.com 1. 800.973.1177
Students who enjoy big-city life will love the Victory Gardens Theater. The city is also Busch. “Beyond that, I make sure to check
Chicago. According to the 2005 Census, home to numerous museums, including the in on the city’s world-class comedy clubs and
Chicago has a population of 2,842,518, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum museums periodically. Even just spending a
third-largest city population in the United of Natural History, and the Museum of couple hours walking around the zoo with a
States. And along with that metropolitan Contemporary Art. friend can make for a great afternoon.”
population comes a metropolitan lifestyle.
Sports fans are sure to love at least one ON THE NET
Those interested in the arts will not be of the city’s 15 sports teams. Chicago is
disappointed, as Chicago is a mecca for home to two Major League Baseball teams University of Chicago Law School
the arts. As the birthplace of modern (including the White Sox, the 2005 World www.law.uchicago.edu
improvisational theater, Chicago is well- Series champions), a championship NFL
known for its theater scene. Amongst the team, a world-renowned basketball team, a Dean’s Message
hundreds of theater companies in Chicago championship soccer team, and one of the www.law.uchicago.edu/prospective/
are the world-renowned Steppenwolf Original Six NHL teams. deanletter.html
Theatre Company (co-founded by Illinois
native Gary Sinise), the Goodman Theatre “Chicago has a vibrant nightlife with plenty Steppenwolf Theatre Company
(built as a tribute to playwright and of options available no matter which nights www.steppenwolf.org
Chicagoan Kenneth Sawyer Goodman), and of the week are convenient,” said 2L Frank
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