The American Bar Association has approved a new part-time J.D. program at Northern Illinois University College of Law, allowing students to earn a degree in four years.
The Naperville-based program will incorporate in-person instruction and online coursework and will follow the same 90-credit curriculum as NIU College of Law’s full-time program in DeKalb.
Classes will be taught by faculty, experienced practitioners and adjunct instructors and students will attend classes two evenings per week, with limited weekend sessions in later semesters, across fall, spring and summer terms.
Participants in the program will benefit from externships, pro bono opportunities, bar preparation support and a criminal defense clinic planned in partnership with public defender offices in Kane and DuPage counties, offering hands-on legal experience through evening and weekend court opportunities.
Applications for the inaugural class will open in September 2026 for Fall 2027 enrollment.
