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Studying law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a great way to explore the big question of “What if?” Specifically, what if you could follow your passion and pay it forward?
At the College of Law, you can strive towards that while maximising everything the micro-urban community of Champaign-Urbana has to offer. Affordable, accessible, and connected, this city is where law students can experience a laidback American Midwest lifestyle while exploring access to different legal landscapes and opportunities for community involvement.
With an average monthly rent of US$900 for a two-bedroom apartment, you’ll be so much less financially burdened than students at other law schools in the country. That doesn’t mean you’ll have limited options – there are affordable rentals in quiet, tree-lined neighbourhoods or in bustling, larger apartment complexes.
“Urbana-Champaign provides an ideal environment for studying and for personal growth, away from the hustle and bustle of larger metropolitan areas,” says Faith Chioma Onuchukwu from Nigeria, an LLM (Intellectual Property Law and Technology) student. “For students, the city offers a perfect balance of serenity, accessibility, and connection.”
“One of my most memorable roles was serving on two Senate committees: the Joint Advisory and Licensing Committee and the Committee on Senate and Statutes. Additionally, I held the position of Event Coordinator for the International Students Association across both semesters,” says Onuchukwu.
Cafes and eateries are befitting a place crowned “the Midwest Living’s Greatest Midwest Food Town.” Surrounding them are no shortage of sports and recreational facilities, support services, and mental and healthcare centres. Brilliance is seemingly everywhere in the Champaign-Urbana area, thanks to its big-city amenities fused with features typically linked to small towns, such as affordability, accessibility, safety, and friendliness.
It’s easy to get around. The city’s public transportation is an award-winning mass transit bus system. It covers the majority of the twin cities, is free to students, and has a convenient schedule to and from the law school.
“Urbana-Champaign strikes a perfect balance between being a vibrant college town and offering proximity to Chicago, which is just a two-hour drive away,” says Saraf Choudhury from Bangladesh, who is part of the LLM (Corporate Law, Commercial Law and Trade specialisation) programme. “Weekend trips to Chicago, especially to enjoy the Symphony Orchestra, were a personal highlight.”
Choudhury also found off-campus work in Chicago. During the summer, she secured an externship at the local charitable arm which enabled her to gain firsthand experience working in the US legal environment, even if it is just volunteer or pro bono work.
“I externed at the Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF). My research focused on improving middle-class access to justice,” she says. “I learned about various aspects of public interest law, including programme management and trauma-informed advocacy. These skills supplemented my existing expertise in legal research, analysis, and client counselling.”
“My immediate goal is to pass the New York Bar and secure a position in the public interest sector. The skills and experiences I’ve gained — from coursework to internships and clinics — have equipped me to achieve this goal and make a meaningful impact in my career,” says student Saraf Choudhury.
Opportunities and the signature Midwest hospitality are just as present within the college and university. A tight-knit community welcomes you the minute you step foot here, making you feel a sense of home despite being thousands of miles away. “What truly stands out for me, however, is the sense of community,” Onuchukwu says. “Before arriving, I anticipated a solitary experience, but I was really happy to meet a welcoming and supportive community that made my transition seamless.”
On any given week, students like Onuchukwu will find the campus is alive with various activities that bring you closer to your peers and professors. The college’s Intercultural Night is a highlight among international students — this is when they celebrate each other’s cultures by dressing up in traditional clothes and feasting on cuisines from their home countries.
Having the ideal student life could be the reason behind many students completing the LLM programme successfully and going on to join various legal firms around the city.
With or without any prior legal training, the programme welcomes and introduces you to the US legal system and the opportunity to specialise in your own area of academic or professional interest according to the provided concentration tracks. These seven tracks include Corporate Law, Commercial Law and Trade, Criminal Law – both #29 and #24 best in the US respectively: Intellectual Property & Technology Law, International and Comparative Law, Justice, Democracy, and Legal Rights, Regulation, Sustainability, and Compliance, and US Legal Practice Skills.
The LLM programme offers seven concentrations, one bar track, and two competitions. Source: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Whichever track you choose to specialise in, you are required to complete two mandatory courses, namely LLM Legal Writing and Research where you will receive training in legal reasoning, writing, and analysis and introduce you to the unique learning environment of a US law school, and Professional Responsibility, a course that provides the history, goals, instruction, values, rules, and responsibilities of the US legal profession and its members. The rest of the courses are according to your chosen career interests or goals.
“I’ve embraced this opportunity by taking courses like the Immigration Law Clinic alongside New York Bar-required classes while pursuing a specialisation in Corporate Law, Commercial Law, and Trade,” Choudhury says. “Not only did I gain a comprehensive understanding of immigration law, but I also developed trauma-informed advocacy skills, which have helped me grow as a lawyer.”
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