Pritzker School of Law
The Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law is the law school of Northwestern University, a private research university. The law school is located on the university's downtown Chicago campus. Northwestern Law is considered part of the T14, an unofficial designation in the legal community for the best law schools in the United States.
Founded in 1859, it was the first law school established in the city of Chicago. Notable alumni include numerous governors of several states; Arthur Goldberg, United States Supreme Court justice; Adlai Stevenson, governor of Illinois, cabinet secretary, and Democratic presidential candidate; John Paul Stevens, United States Supreme Court justice; Newton Minow, former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission ; Harold Washington, the first black mayor of Chicago and, previously, a member of the United States House of Representatives; JB Pritzker, current governor of Illinois; and Suhas Subramanyam, current member of the United States House of Representatives.
History
Founded in 1859, the school now known as the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law was the first law school established in Chicago. The school was originally the law department of the Old University of Chicago under the founding direction of Henry Booth and enrolled twenty-three students. The law school became Union College of Law when it was jointly affiliated with Northwestern University in 1873. In 1891, the law school formally became the Northwestern University School of Law when Northwestern assumed total control.During the 20th century, programs such as the JD-MBA and JD-PhD were added, helping to maintain the school's position among America's top-ranked law schools. In the 1930s, the school was home to the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, which student Fred E. Inbau would direct and from which he would train prosecutors and police, leading to the Reid technique of deceptive interrogation to obtain confessions.
In October 2015, the Northwestern University School of Law was renamed the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law following a US$100 million donation to the law school by JB Pritzker and his wife, MK Pritzker.
In July 2024, a lawsuit was filed by a conservative group against the university citing its activities to increase the hiring of women and people of color for its faculty, as a violation of federal law prohibiting discrimination for reasons of race or sex, one year after affirmative action college admissions in the United States was struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States. The suit asserts that the law school discriminates against, specifically, white men in faculty hiring, as well as in selection of articles published in its noted law review.
Academics
Admissions
Admission to Northwestern Law is highly selective. For the class entering in the fall of 2024, 972 out of 6,327 were offered admission, with 242 matriculating. The 25th and 75th LSAT percentiles for the 2024 entering class were 166 and 174, respectively, with a median of 172. The 25th and 75th undergraduate GPA percentiles were 3.77 and 4.00, respectively, with a median of 3.95.The law school's practical philosophy is manifested in a strong preference for applicants with at least two years of work experience. Approximately 90% of the school's students enter with at least one year of full-time work experience; 70% possess more than two years of experience.
Costs
The total cost of attendance at Northwestern Law for the 2022-2023 academic year is $104,564. The Law School Transparency estimated debt-financed cost of attendance for three years is $367,588.| Category | Per Annum |
| Tuition and Fees | $71,432 |
| Room and board | $19,026 |
| Books | $1,650 |
| Miscellaneous expenses | $12,456 |
| Total | $104,564 |
Journals
Northwestern Law sponsors seven student-run scholarly legal journals. Student staff members are selected based on a writing competition, editing competition, and first-year grades, or a publishable note or comment on a legal topic.''Northwestern Journal of International Law & Business''
The Journal of International Law and Business has a substantive focus on private international law, as opposed to public international law or human rights. It seeks scholarship analyzing transnational and international legal problems and their effect on private entities. The Journal's stated goal is to promote an understanding of the future course of international legal developments as they relate to private entities.''Northwestern University Law Review''
The Northwestern University Law Review was first published in 1906 when it was called the "Illinois Law Review." Prior editors include: Roscoe Pound, long-time dean of Harvard Law School; Judge Robert A. Sprecher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; Dean James A. Rahl; Illinois Governor Daniel Walker; and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Newton N. Minow; US Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg and Presidential Candidate Adlai Stevenson.''Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property''
The Northwestern Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property addresses subjects relating to law at the intersection of technology and intellectual property, including law and biotechnology, copyrights, the Internet, media, patents, telecommunications, and trademarks.''Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology''
The School states that its Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology "is one of the most widely read and widely cited publications in the world". It is the second most widely subscribed journal published by any law school in the country. It is one of the most widely circulated law journals in the country. The journal was founded in 1910 by Dean John Henry Wigmore.''Journal of Law and Social Policy''
The Journal of Law and Social Policy is an interdisciplinary journal that explores the impact of the law on different aspects of society. Topics covered include race, gender, sexual orientation, housing, immigration, health care, juvenile justice, voting rights, family law, civil rights, poverty, the environment, and privacy rights.''Journal of Human Rights''
The Journal of Human Rights is an interdisciplinary journal for the discussion of human rights issues and law.''Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés''
The Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés is a "journal of law for legal rejects and the legal avant-garde" founded in 2022. It was inspired by the Paris Salon des Refusés and aims to discuss legal issues in a way that is more accessible to the general public, as well as help readers trying to understand more difficult works. It publishes one print-issue each Spring and additional online articles throughout the year.Clinics and centers
Pritzker Legal Research Center
The Pritzker Legal Research Center is the library, and fulfills the research and information needs of the faculty and students of Northwestern Law. The Center is named after the Pritzker family, a philanthropic Chicago family. Jay A. Pritzker graduated from Northwestern University in 1941 and Northwestern University School of Law in 1947.Bluhm Legal Clinic
Clinical education at Northwestern dates back to the law school's beginnings. An innovative program developed by Dean John Henry Wigmore in 1910 with the Chicago Legal Aid Society evolved into the Legal Clinic, which opened its doors in 1969 with only two staff attorneys. In 2000, the Clinic was named for Northwestern University trustee and alum Neil Bluhm, a billionaire in real estate and casinos. Today, the Bluhm Legal Clinic houses around 20 clinics within 14 centers and is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive and effective clinical programs in the country. Through the law school's clinical program, students gain direct experience representing clients and fine-tune their skills as advocates. They also work with clinical faculty and staff to challenge the fairness of our legal institutions and to propose solutions for reform. From 2000 to 2013, its director was Steven Drizin.Center on Wrongful Convictions
The Center on Wrongful Convictions is dedicated to identifying and rectifying wrongful convictions. The Center investigates possible wrongful convictions and represents imprisoned clients with claims of actual innocence. It also focuses on raising public awareness of the prevalence, causes, and social costs of wrongful convictions and promoting reform of the criminal justice system. In 2009, faculty member Prof Steven Drizin co-founded a sister project to this Center, a Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth, which was merged back into the main center after 2018.Appellate Advocacy Center
Established in 2006, the Appellate Advocacy Center includes the Federal Appellate Clinic and the Supreme Court Clinic, along with a moot program for practitioners. The Appellate Advocacy Center is directed by Xiao Wang.In the Federal Appellate Clinic, students research and brief cases in federal appellate courts across the country. In certain instances, where a case involves significant federal issues or interests, students will also participate in state appellate court work. Clinic cases generally focus on immigration, qualified immunity, and criminal sentencing and post-conviction issues, although other topics and matters are covered as well. Where possible, Clinic students participate in oral argument before a United States court of appeals.
In the Supreme Court Clinic, students work with attorneys at Sidley Austin to draft certiorari, merits, and amicus briefs before the Supreme Court. Sidley attorneys Carter Phillips and Jeffrey Green co-direct the Supreme Court Clinic.
The Clinic works on a variety of legal matters. During any given year, the Clinic will file briefs in cases concerning international law, tribal law, sentencing, criminal procedure, habeas, and the First Amendment. The Clinic frequently collaborates with state and federal public defenders. The Clinic also works with nonprofit organizations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In fall 2021, the Clinic partnered with Northwestern's Center for International Human Rights, Amnesty International, Global Justice Center, and Human Rights Watch to file an amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, asserting that Mississippi's abortion ban was inconsistent with international law.