Northern Illinois University
College of Law

• You will demonstrate a foundational understanding of civil law, including substantive and procedural knowledge in areas critical to navigating the American administrative, statutory and judicial systems.
• You will gain first-hand knowledge of the legal opportunities available to, and the practical challenges faced by, persons lacking access to justice.
• You will demonstrate a basic understanding of, and competent skills relating to, trial, administrative and transactional practice, including written and oral advocacy in both adversarial and mediatory settings.
• You will learn the basics of local, state and federal government structures and how those structures impact the distribution of costs and benefits in civil society.
• You will demonstrate an understanding of the principal policy debates in areas critical to the social and economic advancement of marginalized groups, including health care, education, immigration, housing and the workplace.

Section 1

An applicant for an NIU-COL Certificate in Public Interest Law must earn a minimum of eighteen academic credits in the courses described by sections 1.a, 1.b, and 1.c below, and must comply with all of the specified requirements of sections 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, and 1.d below.

1. Required Basic Courses
   • Administrative Law
   • One of the following:
     • Trial Advocacy
     • Alternative Dispute Resolution
     • Negotiation
     • Mediation Theory and Practice
2. Required Capstone Courses (you must complete at least one)
   • Civil Justice Clinic
   • Health Advocacy Clinic
   • Juvenile Justice Clinic
   • Business Law Clinic
   • Another externship or clinic primarily focused on public interest law, as approved in advance for certificate eligibility by the supervising faculty member
3. Elective Courses (you must complete at least one of the following elective courses, and must earn sufficient additional credits from the following elective courses to meet the eighteen-credit minimum described above)
   • Children in the Legal System
   • Civil Rights
   • Education Law
   • Employment Law
   • Environmental Law
   • Health Law
   • Immigration Law
   • International Human Rights
   • Labor Law
   • Landlord and Tenant Law
   • Legislation
   • Poverty Law
   • Public International Law
   • Public Sector Labor Law
   • State and Local Government
   • Any of the courses listed in section 1.a.ii., if not counted toward the Required Basic Courses requirement for section 1.a.
   • A seminar or directed research project, if primarily focused on a public-interest related topic and approved in advance for certificate eligibility by the supervising faculty member
4. Required Additional Skills Development Activities (you must meet the qualifications for College of Law Approved Pro Bono Service Recognition)

Section 2

An applicant for an NIU-COL Public Interest Law must also meet the GPA and other requirements set forth in the College of Law Guidelines for Certificate Programs.