University of Illinois law school launches 'racial justice practicum'
The curriculum trains students in 'racial justice as it pertains to the legal profession' and grades them based on journal entries.
Students will receive a stipend of up to $6,000 for completing a course and a subsequent externship.
The University of Illinois’ law school has launched a Racial Justice Practicum this summer to teach about “racial justice as it relates to the legal profession.”
The program is inspired by the death of George Floyd.
Students will receive “externship placements with legal aid agencies or non-profit organizations that represent populations affected by racism in Illinois and elsewhere.” Among these organizations are the ACLU, the Equal Justice Initiative, and Equip for Equality.
Depending on the number of credits completed, students will receive a stipend of up to $6,000.
University of Illinois College of Law Assistant Dean for Administration Carolyn Turner told Campus Reform that there are seventeen students enrolled in the practicum. “A number of Chicago’s top law firms and some generous alumni” funded the program.
[RELATED: University of Illinois Chicago law school cancels former Chief Justice John Marshall]
The course description for the Racial Justice Practicum classes states that each module “will be taught as a module by a guest lecturer who is an expert in the field.” Student grades will also be weighed equally between attendance and “written Racial Justice Journals.”
As Campus Reform recently reported, the University of Illinois’ Urbana-Champaign campus recently committed $2 million annually for research into systemic racism.
[RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: U of Illinois commits $2 million EVERY YEAR for ‘systemic racism’ research]
Campus Reform reached out to the University of Illinois for comment; this article will be updated accordingly.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @BenZeisloft
