Message from the Dean

Welcome to the Northern Illinois University College of Law!

I am honored to serve as the Dean of a law school whose rich history of distinction in legal education is rooted in access, diversity, and excellence in teaching. Student success is our top priority. Our charter is simple: We provide our students with a high-quality and affordable legal education. We want our students to realize the value of a legal education - how their training can help them professionally and how their preparation to practice law will allow them to positively impact the communities in which they live.

The highly skilled faculty at NIU College of Law are educated at some of the nation’s most prestigious law schools, and they bring a broad range of professional experience to the classroom. They are committed teachers and scholars. Our faculty invest significant time in ensuring student success by designing innovative teaching methods, fully engaging students inside and outside the classroom, and providing students with individualized attention and feedback. And, our small class sizes allow for closer connections between students and faculty - where they get to know and mentor each student through his or her professional development. Our faculty are sought-after speakers and authors contributing to the national dialogue shaping the issues that our society faces.

The alumni of NIU College of Law embody our mission. Our accomplished alumni serve their communities as practicing lawyers in both the private and public sector. They hold top leadership positions in law firms, bar associations, government, private companies, and community organizations. Over 120 of our alumni serve or have served as judges. Our alumni are generous with their time, and many serve as mentors to our students.

NIU College of Law is particularly proud to be routinely named a top law school nationally for diversity, value, and careers in public interest and government service. Our diversity enriches the classroom learning experience, strengthens our curriculum, and prepares our students for practice in a richly diverse region and nation. We will continue to cultivate this diversity, promote a culture of equity and inclusion, and support an environment in which all constituents of the law school feel valued and know they have a voice and opportunity to participate in the future of the law school.

With a tradition of public service, we encourage students to become ethical leaders in the legal profession and to maintain a deep concern for justice in their communities, regardless of their practice area. To ensure that our students are prepared to practice effectively upon graduation, we integrate instruction in practical lawyering skills throughout the curriculum and provide a variety of externships and vigorous clinical opportunities. Our clinics serve communities with vulnerable populations that have only limited access to legal representation. And, with our affordable and competitive tuition, our graduates can explore an array of career options, unencumbered by unreasonable debt.

NIU College of Law has it all: a talented student body, dynamic faculty, accomplished alumni, and hard-working and mission-driven staff dedicated to student success. I encourage you to review the information on our website, social media, and other outlets to learn more about NIU College of Law. And, when it is safe to do so, I highly recommend you visit us on our campus so you can talk to our faculty, staff, and students and see firsthand everything NIU College of Law has to offer.

I look forward to meeting you.

Cassandra L. Hill
Dean and Professor of Law
Phone: 815-753-1068
Email: clhill@niu.edu