Illinois Law Schools
9 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • 96,821 attorneys
All Illinois Law Schools
Compare all 9 ABA-accredited law schools in Illinois. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| University of Chicago | #2 | 174 | 3.97 | 10% | 59.7% | 96.7% | $83K |
| Northwestern University | #9 | 173 | 3.96 | 12% | 67.4% | 91.8% | $80K |
| University of Illinois | #46 | 166 | 3.81 | 33% | 28.1% | 93.2% | $47K |
| Loyola University Chicago | #77 | 161 | 3.70 | 28% | 17.2% | 85.7% | $59K |
| Chicago-Kent College of Law | #105 | 161 | 3.72 | 39% | 12.5% | 79.7% | $55K |
| DePaul University | #131 | 158 | 3.61 | 35% | 8.4% | 83.8% | $55K |
| Northern Illinois University | #161 | 150 | 3.41 | 44% | 0% | 61.9% | $24K |
| University of Illinois Chicago School of Law | #167 | 153 | 3.40 | 53% | 3.6% | 68.8% | $47K |
| Southern Illinois University | #175 | 149 | 3.38 | 56% | 1.4% | 74.2% | $16K |
Illinois Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for Illinois law school graduates
Pass Rate Comparison
Understanding Bar Exam Difficulty
Rating 1 (Easiest, 88%+): Very high pass rates indicating easier bar exams or exceptional law school preparation.
Rating 2 (Below Average Difficulty, 83-88%): Above-average pass rates showing moderate difficulty.
Rating 3 (Average Difficulty, 76-83%): Pass rates near national average of ~79%.
Rating 4 (Difficult, 70-76%): Below-average pass rates indicating challenging bar exams.
Rating 5 (Most Difficult, <70%): Significantly below national average. California (68%) and Florida (72%) are notably difficult.
Note: Bar difficulty rating based solely on first-time pass rates from ABA 2024 Bar Passage Statistics. Lower pass rates indicate more challenging bar exams. Individual law school preparation quality also affects outcomes.
Illinois Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in Illinois
Market Overview
Illinois, anchored by Chicago, is a major legal market with strength in corporate law, litigation, and regulatory work. Chicago is home to numerous AmLaw 100 firms and serves as a Midwest regional hub. The state offers opportunities in finance, insurance, and manufacturing law, with robust federal court and government sectors.
Top Legal Employers in Illinois
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in Illinois
Private Sector
- • BigLaw firms (501+ attorneys)
- • Midsize firms (50-100 attorneys)
- • Regional and boutique firms
- • Solo practice and small firms
- • In-house corporate counsel
Public Sector
- • Federal clerkships
- • State and federal prosecutors
- • Public defenders
- • Government agencies
- • Public interest organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
This is backward-looking data that relies on assumptions. Different outcomes are possible. This is not financial advice.