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Wilverlyn Joye Williams, M.A. Legal Studies Master’s Degree – 2018
Wilverlyn Joye Williams experienced the excellence the University of Illinois Springfield offers both on-campus and online. Ms. Williams first attended UIS as an undergraduate, majoring in legal studies. Ms.
Advising
As a legal studies student, you are assigned an advisor to assist you in scheduling your courses and in choosing electives that best match your educational and professional goals.
Joseph McGee ‘15
As a freshman, Joseph McGee set a goal of becoming president of the Student Government Association at the University of Illinois Springfield by his senior year. Thanks to his hard work and the opportunities available to him at UIS, he achieved his goal in 2014. The political science and legal studies major was also involved in Model Illinois Government, College Democrats, and the Black Male Collegiate Society.
Vanessa Pratt ‘17
As a freshman, Vanessa Pratt started the Mock Trial team at the University of Illinois Springfield. The team now competes against other universities throughout the state. On campus, Pratt is a member of the Capital Scholars Honors Program, Pre-Law Society, Model Illinois Government, the Christian Student Fellowship and works for UIS Admissions. Pratt chose UIS because her father and uncle are alumni. Following graduation, she plans to attend law school and hopes to become a prosecuting attorney.
Briana Rodriguez ‘20
The University of Illinois Springfield has empowered Briana Rodriguez to become an advocate for issues she believes are important. The sophomore legal studies major recently participated a rally in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program at the Illinois State Capitol.
Josh Lawson ‘16
Josh Lawson wants to be a lawyer and possibly run for political office one day. At the University of Illinois Springfield, the Legal Studies major is getting a taste of political life as the President of the Student Government Association (SGA).
Career Planning
The knowledge of the law and the legal system you need for your career.
Many professionals need to understand what the legal system is, how it works, how it interrelates with social change, and how it assists people in asserting their rights. Legal studies provides the professional and scholarly skills necessary for law-related careers, law school, or further graduate level study.
Internships
If you are looking for an opportunity to gain real world experience while pursuing your degree, then the Legal Studies Department at the University of Illinois Springfield may be the right fit for you. The Legal Studies curriculum coupled with an internship can provide qualified students an opportunity to gain governmental, legal, and public policy experience through practical application.
Illinois Innocence Project
Illinois Innocence Project
The Illinois Innocence Project conducts research and investigative activities in cases where there is a strong likelihood that an inmate is actually innocent. The Illinois Innocence Project, housed in the Institute for Legal, Legislative and Policy Studies, was recognized as the only undergraduate innocence program at the National Innocence Project conference in San Diego in mid-January of 2002.