John Marshall prepared me with the knowledge, skills, and experience to change lives.
For more than 100 years, it has been our mission to make a difference in the lives of our students and our community. We offer more than an education. At John Marshall, we prepare you with the strategic, analytical, and transactional skills to change lives. And we specialize in educating attorneys who can be successful without needing a lot of on-the-job training and handholding. As a John Marshall student, you’ll be able to:
We know that financial concerns are at the top of the list for many students, so we’ve eliminated the scholarship application process, making that one less detail you need to worry about. As soon as you apply to John Marshall, you are automatically considered for a wide range of merit-based scholarships, including support packages for full tuition with a stipend for living expenses. And we'll include your financial support in your acceptance letter to put your mind at ease. There’s no question that financial support helps free up time for experiential learning, honors programs, and involvement in student organizations, and we want you to have every opportunity to maximize your time in law school.
If you have any questions about scholarships, feel free to contact Melissa Hansen, our Director of Admission.
In addition to scholarships, we’re committed to helping every student find the financial aid necessary to make a career in law a reality. Our Office of Financial Aid assists admitted and current students with a variety of loan information and throughout the financial aid application process.
After four semesters of foundational training in our #6 ranked Lawyering Skills Program, you'll have a wide range of innovative electives to choose from to help you carve a path to justice. Regardless of which courses interest you, you'll develop the strategic, analytical, and transactional skills to change the lives of your clients and impact your community. We specialize in educating attorneys who can succeed from their first day on the job.
As you begin your elective courses, consider further focusing your education in a specific area of law. Whether you choose our nationally ranked Trial Advocacy or Intellectual Property Law, or any of our other programs, our JD certificates offer you the opportunity to develop further competitive distinction at the JD level. Each certificate is designed to serve as a guide for selecting electives in specific areas of study and to develop the courtroom-ready skills that employers seek in career applicants.
Earn a JD Certificate in one of the following areas:
One of John Marshall's hallmarks is experience training—in fact, practical experience is guaranteed for all of our students. You'll sharpen your skills in one of our Community Legal Clinics or 100+ externships, working under the mentorship of a judge or attorney, by assisting real people with real legal problems—veterans, victims of domestic violence, citizens facing housing discrimination, and other people who need your help.
Law isn’t practiced in classrooms—it’s practiced in the real world of law firms, corporations, and courtrooms. In order to be successful as an attorney from your first day on the job, you need to have practical experience. Our nationally recognized Community Legal Clinics offer you the opportunity to develop real legal experience before you graduate in an environment designed to develop the courtroom-ready skills that employers seek in career applicants.
When you graduate, we want you to find a great job and that takes persistence, preparation, and planning. Under the leadership of Appellate Justice Margaret Frossard (ret.), Associate Dean of Professionalism & Career Strategy, our Career Services Office is ready to help—not only with career-counseling services and resources for your job search, but also with guidance to build your resume in law school, including judicial clerkships and other placement opportunities, mentoring programs, networking events, and other career-prep offerings. Through Justice Frossard, you'll also have unique opportunities, like the Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke Professionalism Series, to interact with experienced members of the legal community who share insights about resolving ethical challenges and how to distinguish yourself to employers.