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WIU has signed an accelerated admissions partnership with John Marshall Law School (JMLS) in Chicago. Pictured with WIU President Jack Thomas is Jaime Newsom, the assistant director in the Office of Admission at JMLS.
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WIU, John Marshall Law School Sign 3+3 Agreement

February 21, 2017

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MACOMB, IL - Western Illinois University and John Marshall Law School (JMLS) in Chicago have signed an accelerated admissions partnership that will allow high-performing students to complete their senior year at WIU and their first year of law school concurrently.

The 3 + 3 agreement allows WIU students studying English, history or political science to enter JMLS after their junior year and after taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Students must have earned at least 90 WIU semester hours, with the additional 30 hours required for a bachelor's degree in one of the three departments.

"This agreement is an excellent opportunity for our students to get a head start on a law degree while they are completing their undergraduate degree," said WIU President Jack Thomas. "We look forward to working with John Marshall Law School through this innovative academic degree program."

Once students complete their first year of law school at JMLS, they will receive their bachelor's degree from WIU. A law degree from JMLS will be awarded after students complete the school's required curriculum.

JMLS Associate Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs William B. Powers said he is pleased the two schools were able to enter into the 3+3 agreement.

"This program provides an opportunity for us to collaborate in a way that will save students in the program both time and money," said Powers. "WIU's outstanding programs are a natural fit for John Marshall's practice-ready education."

Students interested in this opportunity must work with their academic adviser to ensure successful compliance with all programming requirements.

"This exciting partnership with John Marshall Law School exemplifies Western's commitment to its core values of academic excellence and educational opportunity," said WIU Department of History Interim Chair Jennifer McNabb. "It is the kind of student-focused initiative that is a point of pride for WIU, and for the departments of history, political science and English. I'm delighted to have this new ability to offer current and prospective students an efficient and targeted program to help them achieve academic and professional success."

WIU College of Arts and Sciences Dean Sue Martinelli-Fernandez said the new academic partnership is the result of hard work by numerous representatives from both schools.

"We all greatly appreciate the commitment by the departments of English, history, and political science, as well as by Dr. Powers and his colleagues at The John Marshall Law School, to this wonderful new partnership," added Martinelli-Fernandez.

For more information, including available scholarships, contact McNabb at JL-McNabb@wiu.edu; Keith Boeckelman, chair of the WIU Department of Political Science, at KA-Boeckelman@wiu.edu or Mark Mossman, chair of the WIU Department of English, at MA-Mossman@wiu.edu.







Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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