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It is better to risk saving a guilty man than to condemn an innocent one.
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Northern Illinois University Law School
DeKalb, Illinois
JD Admissions & Requirements
Data from 2024 admissions cycle
Northern Illinois University Law School is a prestigious JD program located in DeKalb, Illinois. In the competitive 2025 law school rankings, Northern Illinois University Law School was ranked 150 by US News & World Report, making it a strong option for prospective law students in the current application cycle. For the 2024 admissions cycle, Northern Illinois University Law School has an entering 1L class size of approximately 121 with an acceptance rate of 55.6%, positioning it among the competitive law schools for JD applicants.
Also known as
The law is reason, free from passion.
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Northern Illinois University was founded in 1895, and the College of Law was established in 1978. NIU Law seeks to prepare its graduates not only for the traditional role of lawyers but also for the myriad tasks lawyers are called upon to perform. The school has a diverse and professionally distinguished faculty dedicated to teaching and scholarship.
NIU Law is located in DeKalb, a community conveniently located approximately 60 miles west of Chicago. DeKalb is close enough to the Chicago metropolitan area to draw on its many resources, yet it retains its own college-town flavor. It is a safe and affordable environment with a high quality of life.
The university’s main campus is set on 755 acres of rolling country land. The lush campus features two lagoons, several museums, and a vast variety of cultural opportunities. It provides an excellent environment for the study of law.
Though on a relatively large campus with all of the associated activities and opportunities, the College of Law is a small oasis at NIU’s center.