While a small law school might not be for everyone, it has a number of advantages. My undergraduate experience was in a small major at a large undergraduate university, a combination that I found offered the best of both worlds. I was sure that I would have a difficult time finding a law school that offered a similar combination of a supportive academic environment and diverse experiences and opportunities. However, I was delighted to find that the academic community at the Law School and the availability of the social, cultural and legal resources of the City of Chicago provide such an environment. The faculty-student interaction at Chicago was a wonderful surprise.
Professors here know their students by name.
Faculty eat at the same places as students, attend the same lectures, auction items in the charity auction, make cameo appearances in the musical, and compete against students in the trivia contest finals. The accessibility of the faculty makes it easier to develop the close relationships which make law school interesting and exciting. As an example, as part of my work with the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic, I was working on a case in the Seventh Circuit which was relevant to my Constitutional Law course on Equal Protection. I discussed the case with my professor after class and he incorporated my description of the case into our class on the topic. Chicago s small size also gives students a sense of ownership about the school, and the motivation to work to make it a better place.