The Southern Illinois University School of Law's history began in 1972, when it was established by the Illinois state legislature. Its first class entered in August 1973. The school is housed in the Lesar Law Building, named for its first dean Hiram H. Lesar. The School of Law offers the Juris Doctor degree through a full-time program. The School of Law offers specializations in Business and Transactional Law, Health Law, Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and Public Interest Law. In addition, joint degree programs include: J.D./Doctor of Medicine, J.D./Doctor of Political Science, J.D./Master of Accountancy, J.D./Master of Business Administration, J.D./Master of Science in Education, J.D./Master of Electrical and Computer Engineering, J.D./Master of Public Administration, and J.D./Master of Social Work.
Employment
According to SIU Law's official 2017 ABA-required disclosures, 58.62% of the Class of 2017 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment as of March 15, 2018.
Costs
The tuition at SIU Law for the 2018–2019 academic year is $17,504 for Illinois residents and out-of-state students.
The Health Law Program at the Southern Illinois University School of Law was developed in the early 1980s to advance education and research regarding critical issues in health law, public policy, and medical ethics.
Student Organizations
The School of Law offers its students the opportunity to join an array of student activities such as Law Journal, Moot Court Society, and Trial Advocacy Society. There are also a number of student interest groups.
Journal
Southern Illinois University Law Journal
The Southern Illinois University Law Journal is a student-edited journal that publishes articles designed to assist the legal community and to stimulate critical discussion of current legal, policy, and social issues. The Journal publishes three issues per year.
Clinics and Externships
Civil Practice/Elderly Clinic
The Civil Practice/Elderly Clinic provides a full range of civil legal services to those 60 and over in 13 counties in southern Illinois. These services include the drafting of simple wills and powers of attorney, assistance with securing public benefits and entitlements including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Veteran's benefits. In addition, the clinic handles family law matters, consumer problems, and public utilities problems.
Domestic Violence Clinic
The Domestic Violence Clinic provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence in Jackson, Williamson and Union counties. In an average order of protection case, students will interview the client, prepare the client for a hearing, appear before the court in a contested or uncontested hearing, prepare an order for the court, and follow through with the necessary steps to make the order enforceable.
Juvenile Justice Clinic
Students enrolled in the Juvenile Justice Clinic work with an experienced clinic attorney and perform legal services and duties to minors for whom the clinic attorney has been appointed guardian ad litem.
Veterans' Legal Assistance Program Externship
The Veterans' Legal Assistance Program Externship provides free legal assistance to veterans in southern Illinois who cannot afford or do not have access to legal representation in the appeals of claims for compensation for service-connected disabilities, pension benefits, survivor benefits, and education benefits.
Judicial Externship
The Judicial Externship offers an opportunity for law students to learn about the legal system by working for a sitting judge.
Public Interest Externship
The Public Interest Externship offers hands-on experience working in a publicly funded law office providing public-service legal assistance. Placements include state's attorney offices, public defender offices, legal service offices, and non-profit organizations and governmental agencies.
Fourth Tier ABA Rankings
As of the 2018 ranking, SIU School of Law is ranked "RNP" putting it in the fourth tier of 150-196 range of ABA approved law schools in the US News Rankings of Best Law Schools with a median starting salary of employed graduates of $50,000. In 2012, National Jurist ranked SIU School of Law as one of the best value law schools in the nation with a grade of "A-."
