DePaul University Review

Bottom-line: Nestled in the heart of Chicago DePaul University College of Law offers a great environment in which to study and become conversant in the law. 

I can still remember the day I received my letter of acceptance for DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, IL.  It was a slightly overcast late day in spring 2001. It was threatening to rain, teasing the budding thirsty flowers in my backyard with a cool nourishing drink.  My hands trembled slightly as I held the envelop that one that would (possibly) determine the course of my life. 

I turned the envelop over and over in my hands, putting it down and then picking it up, trying to decided whether or not to open it.  Finally, with letter opener in hand I ripped open the announcement to learn that I made it in; I was going to the Law Schhol!  But why DePaul one might ask.               

My Choice

When it came to choosing a law school I really didn't have many choices.  Its not that my LSAT scores were less then average, they weren't, it was a matter of location, location, location.  Since I am an older student (39 years old when I first entered law school) and I own a home and work fulltime and I am raising a family, I could not just pickup and leave the Chicago area to attend a law school elsewhere.  So I need to apply to a school in the area; Northwestern University, University of Chicago, and DePaul were all school I considered.   

Budget was also a concern.  I pay for law school through a combination of student loans and Veterans Education benefits, and I wanted to keep the cost of Law School below $18,000 a year. Finally reputation was a consideration.  Because I am a Network Engineer by day, I knew I wanted to eventually practice in the burgeoning area of IP (Intellectual Property) Law. 

In the end I choose DePaul University College of Law, because first and foremost I am an alum; I received my Bachelors from DePaul's, School for New Learning, a highly regarded adult education program.  Second, DePaul University College of Law has one of the most extensive IP clinics in the nation and I knew I want to join to gain practical knowledge before graduating.  Lastly, I felt comfortable at DePaul; the law school is housed in one 11 story building and the atmosphere of the school, faculty, and facilities felt homely and welcoming. 

The law schools national ranking was important to me as well (see How Law Schools are Ranked at the end of this review).  DePaul University College of Law is considered a Tier 3 school, but that concerned me less then its growing reputation in the area of IP practices and instruction, which rank at the top.          

My Viewpoint

The DePaul University College of Law class of 2006 has some 86 students in attendance and that can make for some rancorous classroom debates, but the professors always mange to keep things under control.  All of the horror stories one hears about 1L (first year law) are true, but the becoming part of a study group can minimize the impact. 

The bookstore is extensive in its offerings, and what it does not carry, can be purchased on-line at efollett.com, or ecampus.com, both of which offer books at a much higher price then Amazon.com.  At the start of one semester the bookstore was out of one of the books I needed, but that was only because it was backordered from the publisher.    

Most everyone hated Legal Writing as a 1L, and I have to admit that I count myself among their number.  I disliked the way the course was taught, and I think more should be done to ease student into the practice of speaking legalese. 

End of semester exams were given is essay form without the benefit of computer.  A bit old fashioned and all that writing gives one finger cramps, but I am assured computers are coming.     

Student administration is a nightmare as it is at most college so I hear.  I have spent hours either on the phone or at the administration desk trying to get one thing or another straightened out.  At first it is frustrating, but over time I have learned to deal with it, or learn ways around the inept administration. 

The student financial aid office is much better.  Though my student financial aid award letters are always late getting to me, at no time was my account not credited on time.  And my VA certifications were always submitted on time assuring that my all important VA educational benefits continued unabated.  There are a number of scholarship opportunities available, most geared towards fulltime students; a complete listing is available online at the law school's extensive website.

The DePaul University College of Law website (http://www.law.depaul.edu/) is well laid out, informative, and easy to use.  Course schedules, syllabi, student handbook, class assignments, course descriptions, study guides, and various student resources are all at my fingertips, whenever I need them.  Each student is also assigned an email address to use while attending the school, which can be accessed via the web.  And each class is outfitted with secure wireless so accessing resource on the web during lecture or before or after class is breeze; bring your own laptop and wireless card of course. 

The DePaul University College of Law library covers two entire floors and is quite extensive.  However 1L's are afforded (limited) access to Westlaw and Lexis/Nexus in the first half of 1L and full access thereafter.  Both of these professional grade legal resources are invaluable tools for researching cases, statues, current and relevant archived newspaper & magazine articles etc. 

Institutes, Centers, and Law Journals/Reviews

The DePaul University College of Law maintains a number of student staffed Institutes and centers geared towards helping students-beginning in 2L-gain practical knowledge in diverse areas of the law.  They include the Health Law Institute, International Human Rights Law Institute, Center for Intellectual Property & Information Technology, Center for Justice in Capital Cases, Center for Law Science, Center for Church/State Studies, Center for the Study of Race & Bioethics, The Schiller, DuCanto & Fleck Family Law Center, Center for International Law, Policy& Africa, and the Criminal Law Program.

Joint Student/Faculty run law journals include Art and Entertainment Law, Business & Commercial Law, Health Care Law, DePaul Journal of Sports Law and Contemporary Problems, and Law Review.  In addition the DePaul University College of Law runs an outstanding Moot Court program-of which I participate-as well as a plethora of student organizations including the Moot Court Society, Student Bar Association, American Civil Liberties Society, and the IP Law Society.