Why Chicago? The Benefits of Living, Studying and Working in the Windy City
Growing up just outside Chicago in suburban Oak Park, I’ve had plenty of time to experience what makes this city so special. Now as a 1L at Loyola I’ve finally had the chance to live in the heart of downtown, and I’ve realized that I’ve only scratched the surface of what makes Chicago such a great city. I’m here to break down what’s so great about studying the law in Chicago:
Living: So by now you’ve heard: the first year law student’s workload is grueling. But you can’t spend every single second in the library right? Any successful law student knows that maintaining balance in life is essential to academic success, and Chicago provides plenty of ways to relax and have a little fun when you aren’t hitting the books. Loyola’s Law Center is located in the middle of the Gold Coast neighborhood, one of Chicago’s trendiest locales. 
When I step out of class, the “Magnificent Mile” of Michigan Avenue shopping is located only a few blocks away. State Street and Rush Street are also close and provide secondary opportunities for first-rate bars, shops, and restaurants. There are four Starbucks locations within a three-block radius of the law school, which of course comes in handy. On a warm summer day, Loyola students could even walk to Oak Street Beach for a day in the sun.
Living in the country’s third largest city means that an unexplored neighborhood is only an El ride away. The Law Center is just two blocks away from the Chicago red line stop, which provides quick access to any part of Chicago. For example: Just south of the river is home to Chicago’s thriving theatre district. 15 minutes north on the Red Line will take you to student-friendly Lincoln Park and it’s variety of boutique shops and bars. Many Loyola students live in Lincoln Park—it contains reasonably priced two flats and apartments and is home to seemingly every 20-something in Chicago. 5 minutes north of Lincoln Park will get you out to Wrigley Field for a Cubs game. Having a law school located in the heart of a city makes for a great living experience—the only trouble might be staying focused on your work.
Academics: An underrated aspect of going to school in downtown Chicago is the students and faculty you interact with on a daily basis. A majority of my professors have practiced in a variety of capacities in Chicago. So far, I’ve found Loyola professors and students to be a reflection of the city itself: urban-minded but also possessing a sense of Midwestern warmth. Chicago draws a diverse group of students, both culturally and geographically. I’ve met students from Southern California, Texas, and Florida who have said they came to Chicago just because they heard great things about the city and wanted to try it out for themselves. My fears that I would be with students who only came from Chicago’s suburbs like myself were quickly alleviated, and it’s been one of the pleasant surprises of my first year. It’s more stimulating to learn when you’re interacting with people who have different past experiences and backgrounds.
Working: One of Chicago’s greatest assets regarding jobs is its size. As a 1L we just recently were able to discuss summer job opportunities with Loyola’s Career Services for the first time, and the scope of employment offerings in the law this city possesses can’t be taken for granted. There are a wide variety of law firms, non-profit organizations, and government agencies encompassing all types of law. As a 1L who has yet to complete their first semester, I don’t have a firm idea of what type of law I would like to pursue as a career, but I’m confident that living here means I have the liberty of exploring many different career options. I have already had the opportunity to attend networking events set up by Loyola’s administration, and it was encouraging to see how many alumni are entrenched in various law jobs across the city. There’s little doubt that the market for lawyers has been tough in recent years, but I feel that the loss is somewhat buffered by the huge amounts of opportunities there are in this city through networking and sheer amount of employers.
I couldn’t imagine anywhere else as home during law school, and I know many of my classmates feel the same way. It’s a world-class city with great people, and Loyola University Chicago Law is in the middle of it all. Come check it out for yourself!
-Luke Mansour, 1L
