Legal Clinics

C-K Law Group: The Law Offices of Chicago-Kent

Many law schools have clinics. Chicago-Kent’s clinics are unique, in a practical sense: Most of them are housed within the C-K Law Group, an actual in-house law firm staffed not simply by academics, but by practicing attorneys, some of whom allow even first-year students to work on a wide range of legal matters alongside them.

Known since the early 1980s simply as “The Law Offices of Chicago-Kent,” the C-K Law Group was a pioneer in clinical legal education when it adopted a fee-generating model designed to replicate the experience of employment at a private law firm. Our clinic takes the concept of experiential “learning by doing” to an entirely new level, allowing students to work on sophisticated litigation and transactional matters within numerous fields, all while under the supervision of highly experienced and ethical practitioners. Students will have the opportunity to engage in many, if not all, aspects of a case, including client interviews; discovery; preparation of motions, pleadings and correspondence; pretrial conferences; depositions; preparation for settlement or trial; and, at times, even arguing before a judge.

Today, C-K Law Group is a giant among the nation's law school legal clinics, with nine in-house practicing attorneys. Our in-house practicing attorneys rank among the top practitioners nationally, with a record of client success that rivals that of Chicago's premier law firms.

The C-K Law Group is a great mechanism for gaining knowledge by working on real client matters as well as gaining meaningful experience for your resume.  

Informational Meeting

On October 8th at 3 p.m. in room 270, Professor Jon Decatorsmith will conduct an informational meeting for students interested in participating in the Spring and Summer 2026 Legal and Judicial Externship Program as well as the C-K Law Group clinical education experience.  

These are great opportunities for students to not only learn more about the law and get legal experience for your resume but to also earn law school credit.  

Clinic note:  most clinics can be taken for 3 or 4 credit hours (an average of 11 or 14 hours per week in the spring and fall and an average of 18 or 23 hours per week in the summer).  

Externship note:  Please note before applying that you must be able to commit 16 hours per week in the spring/fall semesters and 32 hours/week during the summer semester.  For additional information about either externship program, you may also refer to the Law School Website. If you have any questions about the Program or the application itself, please contact Professor Jon Decatorsmith (jdecator@illinoistech.edu).

How to Apply:  Applications for the Spring 2026 semester will become available in mid-October.