University of Illinois College of Law

What University of Illinois College of Law does

The University of Illinois College of Law is a public law school founded in 1897, operating as a constituent college of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign within the University of Illinois System. Located in Champaign, Illinois, the school delivers four degree programs (JD, LLM, MSL, JSD) plus eight joint degree options and a legal studies minor, serving prospective attorneys, international law graduates, non-lawyer professionals, and doctoral legal scholars. Its core academic offering is augmented by 10 clinics and experiential learning programs (including the First Amendment, Immigration Law, and Veterans Legal Clinics), The Chicago Program for career exposure in the Chicago legal market, and the Trial Advocacy Program at the Anderson Center. The school is ABA-accredited, a regulatory prerequisite for graduates seeking bar admission in most U.S. jurisdictions.

The school's go-to-market is recruitment-led through the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) application portal, supported by campus visits, an active content and social media presence (website, Illinois LawCast podcast, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and earned media from faculty scholarship. The revenue model combines tuition and fees (with unconditional scholarships to over 80% of the student body, guaranteed regardless of GPA), private giving and endowment income, and external research grants. Customer outcomes are strong: 95% of 2025 graduates were employed by March 2026, the July 2025 Illinois Bar first-time passage rate was 93%, and the school holds a record 85-employer Honor Roll with approximately 270 recent graduates hired across the Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025. National rankings include #10 Best Value Law School (National Jurist, 2025), #22 Go-To Law School (National Law Journal, 2026), and #5 nationally in the Gavel Trial Advocacy Rankings.

The institution is led by Jamelle Sharpe, the 14th dean (appointed August 16, 2023), supported by an expanded senior team including Executive Assistant Dean Greg Miarecki (Career Planning), Assistant Dean Kelly Salefski, and directors across clinics and student services. Recent strategic moves include expansion of the Student Services team, deepened employer partnerships through the Honor Roll program, and alumni-led development of the AI study tool NomosLearning. The school's competitive position rests on a 128-year brand, ABA accreditation, faculty scholarship, a deep employer pipeline, and aggressive scholarship-based value positioning in legal education.

Name

University of Illinois College of Law

Legal name

University of Illinois College of Law

Website

https://law.illinois.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1897

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The University of Illinois College of Law is a public, ABA-accredited law school founded in 1897, offering JD, LLM, MSL, and JSD programs plus 10 clinics and The Chicago Program, serving prospective attorneys, international lawyers, and non-lawyer professionals with 80%+ scholarship coverage.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAHAIAA

ABA-Accredited JD-Granting Law Schools

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYEDAHAIAC

LLM & Post-JD Graduate Law Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

SECONDARYEDAHABAF

Law & Legal Studies Research Universities

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Private Research Universities

SECONDARYEDAHAIAD

SJD / JSD & Doctoral Law Programs

Education/Higher Education (Colleges & Universities)/Law Schools

Keywords

• Legal education
• Law degree programs
• Juris doctor
• Legal clinics
• Trial advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from tuition and fees for JD, LLM, MSL, and JSD degree programs. Financial support provided through scholarships to over 80% of student body.
2. Private Giving and Endowments: Alumni donations and endowment income supporting scholarships, programs, and operations.
3. Research Grants: Faculty research funding from external sources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The University of Illinois College of Law delivers graduate-level legal education through the JD, LLM, MSL, and JSD degree programs, plus eight joint degrees, a legal studies minor, and 10 experiential clinics. Offerings are targeted at prospective law students and practicing professionals, with scholarship support for over 80% of the student body. The school is accredited by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• JD (Juris Doctor) Program Primary three-year law degree preparing students for U.S. state bar admission and legal practice, including 8 joint degree options with other University of Illinois departments.
• LLM (Master of Laws) Program
• MSL (Master of Studies in Law) Graduate degree designed for non-lawyers seeking legal knowledge, particularly useful for professionals in regulatory, compliance, or policy fields.
• JSD (Doctor of Juridical Science) Highest law degree, a research-focused doctoral program for students seeking careers in legal scholarship and academia.
• Clinics and Experiential Learning Hands-on legal training through 10 clinics and field placements, including the First Amendment Clinic, Immigration Law Clinic, and Veterans Legal Clinic, offering live client experiences for students.
• Trial Advocacy Program (Anderson Center) Specialized program for developing litigation and courtroom skills through competitions, mentorship, and practical training at the Anderson Center for Advocacy and Professionalism.
• The Chicago Program Off-campus program in Chicago providing students exposure to one of the largest U.S. legal markets through externships, networking, and career development opportunities.
• Transfer and Visiting Student Programs Pathways for current JD students at other ABA-approved U.S. law schools to transfer or visit for a semester, and for students at partner international institutions to study abroad.
• LLM Bar Workshop Bar exam preparation workshops for LLM students covering Multistate Performance Test (MPT), Constitutional Law, and Evidence.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of 2025 graduates employed by March 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Katten Muchin Rosenman LLPflagshipOthersDiamond tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; has hired approximately 270 recent graduates across Classes of 2023, '24, and '25
• Kirkland & Ellis LLPflagshipOthersDiamond tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; major national law firm with regular hiring of Illinois Law graduates
• Sidley Austin LLPflagshipOthersDiamond tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; major national law firm with regular hiring of Illinois Law graduates
• Office of the Cook County Public DefendercoreOthersPlatinum tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; government employer with regular hiring of graduates for public interest legal work
• Office of the Illinois Attorney GeneralcoreOthersPlatinum tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; state government employer with regular hiring of graduates
• U.S. Army JAG CorpscoreOthersGold tier employer on 2025-26 Honor Roll; military employer with regular hiring of graduates for Judge Advocate General corps
• American Bar AssociationcoreOthersThe College of Law is approved by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar; maintains ABA required disclosures and standards compliance
• Law School Admission Council (LSAC)coreOthersApplication processing through LSAC for JD, LLM, MSL, JSD, and transfer applications; provides CAS credential assembly service

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Michigan Law School: Another elite public law school at a Big Ten research university offering JD, LLM, and SJD programs with strong national rankings. Highly comparable on mission, public-university structure, faculty scholarship, and placement footprint.
• Northwestern Pritzker School of Law: T14 private law school in Chicago with strong placement and JD/LLM programs. Competes directly for Chicago-market candidates and employer placement against Illinois Law's Chicago Program.
• Indiana University Maurer School of Law: Public Big Ten law school with JD and LLM programs and similar state-university structure. Comparable in mission, scale, applicant profile, and Midwest placement footprint.
• University of Iowa College of Law: Public Big Ten law school offering JD, LLM, and SJD programs with comparable clinical offerings and state-university economics. Direct Midwest competitor for applicants and regional legal-market placement.
• Ohio State University Moritz College of Law: Public Big Ten law school offering JD and LLM programs with similar ranking band, state-university structure, and Midwest placement focus. Direct competitor for in-region applicants.
• University of Wisconsin Law School: Public Big Ten law school offering JD and LLM programs with similar Midwest placement focus and public-university funding model. Direct competitor for in-region applicants and Wisconsin legal-market placements.
• University of Minnesota Law School: Public Big Ten law school with JD and LLM programs and a similar ranking band. Competes with Illinois Law for Upper Midwest applicants and Twin Cities/Chicago legal-market placements.

Broad incumbents

• University of Chicago Law School: T6 law school in Chicago with elite national reputation and faculty scholarship dominance. Overlaps with Illinois Law on Chicago-market placement and faculty profile but operates at a materially higher rankings tier.
• Washington University in St. Louis School of Law: Private law school in the Midwest with national placement reach and a JD program. Competes for similar applicant profiles and BigLaw placement outcomes as Illinois Law despite different funding model.
• University of Texas School of Law: Top public law school at a flagship state university with strong JD, LLM, and doctoral programs. Comparable in public-university mission, faculty scholarship, and breadth of degree offerings, though in a different regional market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UofIllinoisLaw
• Facebookfacebook.com/uillinoislaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/university-of-illinois-college-of-law
• Instagraminstagram.com/uillinoislaw
• Xx.com/UIllinoisLaw

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Illinois College of Law