1. College of Law
  2. Library
  3. History

History of the College of Law and Law Library

  • 1974

    On November 2, the College of Law was founded by Lewis University (Romeoville, IL). Dr. Virginia Ann Church was appointed the first dean.

  • 1975
    The first Law School classes began on February 1 at the College of Law campus in Glen Ellyn, IL.
  • 1976

    During the search for a new dean, law librarian and assistant professor John E. Montgomery served as interim dean, until the appointment of B. J. Tennery.

  • 1978
    ABA granted provisional approval to the College of Law in February. Discussions began to transfer the law school to Northern Illinois University.
  • 1979

    On June 27, Governor James Thompson signed SB 719, creating Public Act 81-37, authorizing the transfer of the College of Law from Lewis University to Northern Illinois University.

    On August 1, the jurisdiction of the College of Law was officially transferred to NIU.

  • 1980
    The first issue of the Northern Illinois University Law Review was published.
  • 1981
    Leonard P. Strickman was the first to be appointed as the dean of the Northern Illinois University College of Law.
  • 1982

    The law school moved from Glen Ellyn to the south wing of Swen Parson Hall (the former University library) during the summer. The law school received full ABA accreditation in August.

    Blair Kaufman, former law librarian of the National Judicial College at the University of Nevada, was appointed director of the new NIU Law Library.
  • 1983

    The formal dedication of the NIU College of Law was held March 17-19, including a visit by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun. A Moot Court Competition was held with Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Howard J. Ryan, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Moran, and U.S. District Court Judge Stanley J. Rosezkowski presiding.

    The first commencement at the DeKalb campus was held on May 28th.

  • 1983

    A display during an early accreditation site visit.

  • 1985

    David C. Shapiro (left) receiving an NIU service award.

  • 1986
    The law library was posthumously named in memory of Senator David C. Shapiro, the primary sponsor for Senate Bill 719, which approved transferring the College of Law to NIU.
  • 1991

    The law library expanded into the former art gallery, and administrative space was added to the law school.

    The College of Law began organizing annual summer sessions for minority undergraduates in the Program for Minority Access to Law School in cooperation with the SIU and University of Illinois law schools.

  • 1992
    The College of Law began conducting symposia on land use, environmental and agricultural law in conjunction with the American Farmland Trust.
  • 1993
    In January, the College of Law’s courtroom was renamed in honor of Professor Emeritus Francis X. Riley, who taught at the College of Law from 1975 to 1987.
  • 1994

    In April, the main entrance lobby of Swen Parson Hall was named after the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

    The commencement ceremony celebrated the 15th anniversary of the College of Law as part of NIU and included an address by State Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch.

  • 2001

    The Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic was opened in Rockford, the first clinic to provide experiential learning opportunities for College of Law students. The formal opening ceremony was held on March 9.

  • 2005
    Fundraising began for a major renovation and technical upgrade of the Riley Courtroom. Rooms 186 and 188 were converted to the first "smart classrooms," while the Law Library received electrical system upgrades and the Admissions office moved to the first floor.
  • 2010
    The Zeke Giorgi Legal Clinic received the 2010 Partner in Peace award in honor of its violence prevention efforts.
  • 2013

    The Hesed House Community Law Clinic was approved by the faculty in March 2013, began educating students in September, and began taking clients in January 2014.

    The Prize Moot Court Competition was renamed the Lenny B. Mandell Moot Court Competition, and the Mandell Moot Court Scholarship was established.

    In November, the Accelerated Six-Year (3+3) Integrated B.S. or B.A./J.D. Program was approved, the first integrated program enabling NIU students to earn both degrees in only six years.

  • 2018

    The Civil Justice Clinic received the ISBA's Excellence in Legal Education Award, and the College of Law launched the Prisoner's Rights Program. The College of Law received an Excellence in Education Award from the Lawyers' Assistance Program.

Contact Us

David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library
Swen Parson, second floor
lawreference@niu.edu

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