A Message from the Dean

Thank you for your interest in the University of Chicago Law School.

Our Law School is a remarkable place that offers an experience unlike any other in the country. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to rigorous thinking, serious inquiry, and open debate. We don’t ask our students to memorize answers—we ask them to question assumptions, test ideas, and think independently. Our classrooms are animated by debate, our hallways by conversation, and our community by a shared respect for the power of reasoned argument.

Our extraordinary faculty are leaders in their fields, producing research that influences courts, policymakers, and public understanding of the law. But they’re also passionate teachers who are deeply involved in the life of the Law School. They teach their own courses, hold open office hours, and regularly engage with students in ways both formal and informal. They treat teaching not just as a responsibility, but as a privilege.

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds and bring with them a diversity of perspectives. What unites them is a seriousness of purpose and a belief in the power of ideas. They’re here because they want to be challenged—and because they want to challenge others. Our culture is one of mutual respect and intellectual openness. In short, UChicago Law is a place where rigorous inquiry, open debate, and deep engagement with ideas prepare you to shape the future of law and society.

This kind of environment requires a strong commitment to free expression—and that commitment is foundational to who we are. We believe the best learning happens when ideas are confronted directly, differences are aired openly, and thoughtful disagreement is embraced, not avoided.

But we don’t just train great thinkers—we prepare our students to lead. Whether through our clinics, student organizations, leadership programs, or the support of our dedicated Office of Career Services, we ensure students leave here ready to make a real impact. Our alumni include federal judges, nonprofit leaders, law firm partners, business executives, public servants, scholars, and entrepreneurs. They go on to careers of purpose and influence—and they remain deeply connected to this institution long after they graduate.

If you’re considering law school, I encourage you to explore what UChicago Law has to offer. Visit our website, watch a faculty lecture, talk to our students, or come see our Hyde Park campus in person. This is a place that will challenge you, support you, and prepare you not just to succeed in law, but to lead in whatever path you choose.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Adam Chilton, Dean and Howard G. Krane Professor of Law