The JD - Juris Doctor is a professional law degree. It is the degree that most law students must attain to entitle them to take a bar examination and, upon passing, become a licensed attorney.

Students enrolled in the Family Law Concentration will receive instruction and training in those subject areas fundamental to family law practice, in addition to instruction in specialized, related subject areas of their choosing.

Family law governs the rights and duties of people in close and caring relationships with each other. Our diverse society, which includes people with vastly different political and religious beliefs, presents an ever-changing legal landscape in which definitions of marriage, family and parenthood are in flux, yet ordinary people must make their way and establish, maintain or sever important relationships as their circumstances require. Family law practice provides lawyers with opportunities to help clients through some of life’s most important and difficult situations.

As the legal profession has changed and society has become increasingly globally-connected, Southern Illinois University (SIU) Law has stayed ahead of the curve. Our students learn from faculty with global ties that empower them to learn beyond borders and to another level.

This program offers foreign law graduates the opportunity to earn a J.D. degree in two years.

Students enrolled in the ADR Concentration will receive instruction and training intended to expand their understanding of the role of the lawyer outside of the traditional adversarial litigation setting and expose them to lawyering skills essential to current legal practice.