Loyola University Chicago School of Law

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Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Established: 1908
Type: Private
Dean: David N. Yellen
Students: 740
Location: Illinois, Illinois, USA
Campus: Urban
Website: http://www.luc.edu/law

Loyola University Chicago School of Law is a college of Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1909 by the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, the School of Law is located in downtown Chicago on prime real estate within walking distance of the landmark Water Tower (only surviving downtown building of the Great Chicago Fire), John Hancock Center (one of the tallest buildings in the United States), Holy Name Cathedral and the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue. Loyola University Chicago School of Law is famous for its accomplished alumni, as trial lawyers, and politicians in the State of Illinois. It offers a vast array of degrees, and combined degree programs, including the S.J.D., the equivalent of the Doctorate Degree in Law. Under a rich Jesuit tradition, Loyola University Chicago School of Law is committed to the service of others, and promotes diversity in its law school body and faculty members. Famous for developing the whole person, Loyola University Chicago, and water tower campus offers art exhibitions, and other cultural events.

With its competitive yet collegial academic environment, Loyola University Chicago boasts some of the highest Illinois Bar Exam pass rates in the State of Illinois. The 2007 Illinois Bar Exam pass rate was 91%.[1] However, Loyola might have one of the lowest rates of employment at graduation, ranking 7 out of the 8 Chicago feeder schools for the 2007 graduating class.[2]

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[edit] Student body

The School of Law currently occupies the Loyola Law Center at 25 East Pearson Street. The Law School previously occupied Maguire Hall, at One East Pearson, but switched buildings with the Loyola University School of Business Administration in the fall of 2005. Each day, its student body of over 1,000 congregates at the Water Tower Campus to be taught by full-time and part-time professors who are also the leading jurists of the City of Chicago and State of Illinois. Students are also involved in over thirty student organizations and six distinguished law publications: Annals of Health Law, Children’s Legal Rights Journal, Consumer Law Review, International Law Review, Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, and Public Interest Law Reporter.

[edit] Administration

Since July, 2005 David N. Yellen has been Dean and Professor of Law. Having previously served as the dean of Hofstra University School of Law, Dean Yellen previously taught at Villanova University and Cornell Law School. He was also counsel to the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

[edit] Academics

There are fourteen major degree programs offered at the School of Law: doctor of jurisprudence (J.D.), master of laws (LL.M.) in either business law, child and family law, health law or tax law. Students may pursue a master of jurisprudence (M.J.) in either business law, child and family law or health law. There are two major doctoral degrees: doctor of juridical sciences in health law and policy (S.J.D.) which is the highest degree any attorney may obtain in the United States and the doctor of laws (D.Law). Dual degree programs are offered with the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work (J.D./M.S.W. and M.J./M.S.W.), Department of Political Science (J.D./M.A.) and the Graduate School of Business (J.D./M.B.A.).

[edit] The Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition

In 1993, the APA Law Student Association of the South Texas College of Law founded the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition. Currently, the competition is administered by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association ("NAPABA") Law Foundation and the NAPABA Judicial Council. Judge Thomas Tang was a champion of individual rights, an advocate for the advancement of minority attorneys and an ardent supporter of NAPABA and the moot court competition. This moot court competition was established in an effort to continue Judge Tang's legacy. From 1977 until his passing in 1995, he served on the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

In 2001, the national competition was held in the Ninth Circuit, Scottsdale, Arizona. That year, the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit, Mary Schroeder, as well as two (2) of her co-judges volunteered to judge the final round of the national competition. At that national competition in 2001, Loyola students, Susan Danial and Zarin Khan can say they argued in front of the Ninth Circuit, including its Chief Judge. Chief Judge Schroeder served on the bench with Judge Tang for approximately fourteen (14) years. After the final round, she commented that she felt honored to judge the final round of the competition and re-iterated Judge Tang's compassion and commitment to advancement of minority attorneys as well as his dedication to the law. Judge Tang’s wife, Dr. Pearl Tang, continues the legacy and attends the final round of the national competition every year. One of the greatest honors for Loyola students at the national competition is to meet Dr. Pearl Tang.

The format of the competition divides the country into six (6) regions: central, northeast, southeast, southwest, west, and northwest. The top two (2) teams from each region advance to the national competition that is held simultaneously with the NAPABA National Convention. The convention sites have included but are not limited to: Hawaii; New York City; Scottsdale, Arizona; Washington D.C.; Los Angeles, California; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Competition is one of the few, if not the only, moot court competitions that awards scholarship money to the winners, which include: first place team, second place team, best brief and best oralist. Currently, the total amount of the scholarships is $10,000. Loyola University School of Law is highly recognized as a premier advocacy school and has not disappointed with its performance in this competition. The university has enjoyed inexplicable success in this competition. The following is a list of Loyola National Champions since the creation of the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition in 1993:

1994 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Jinah Yun/Jennifer Gong

1996 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Rana Abbasi/Shenazz Mansuri

1997 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Kristin Corl/Grace Wee

1999 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Stacy Bardo/Esther Hong

2000 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Alison Ozawa/Emmy Wang

2001 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Susan Danial/Zarin Khan

2003 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Julie Kiley/Cindy Nguyen

2006 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO – Nicholas Lee/Joy Park

2007 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO - Caroline Kwak/Huda Krad

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] Resources

[edit] Main sites

[edit] Publications