February 2026

Dear Alumni,

I want to thank you for your support of our law school and for all you do for our students. As we move forward, focused on our strategic plan, I write to share a few updates:

Our admissions team continues to attract a talented pool of applicants, registering a 44% increase in application volume compared to last year, outpacing the national average, which registers a 23% increase in applications.

Our career services team reports being on track to meet or exceed last year’s placement rate for our most recent graduates. Additionally, the team continues its diverse and comprehensive programming for alumni and for students, including helping to secure public interest work, judicial clerkships, and opportunities at law firms.

This year, our innovative part-time JD program, Weekend JD, will celebrate 10 years, and we’re pleased that the fall 2026 semester will usher in the new Weekend JD model of 70% online instruction. As intended, this shift to an increased percentage of remote instruction will make our part-time program even more accessible to working professionals.

In January, the Holistic Immigration Hub (HIH) pilot—now in its second year—launched the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic. The clinic bridges seminar training and experiential learning, infusing curricula with interdisciplinary expertise from across the University, cross-training students on the needs of the client beyond legal representation. Another newly launched component, the Immigration Law Lab, trains not only Loyola law students but law students across Chicago who are interested in volunteering with agencies, including the National Immigrant Justice Center and The Resurrection Project. The Lab includes a seminar that addresses the needs of professionals working in the field. In late 2025, the HIH welcomed two new staff attorneys, Raia Stoicheva and Marie Silver, to bolster the initiative’s work.

We continue to support all corners of the law school through fundraising. If you are looking for a way to give back this year, please consider a School of Law Opportunity Scholarship. This unique scholarship model combines long-term support with mentorship. Donors commit to an annual gift of $10,000 for 3 years for full-time JD students or 4 years for Weekend JD students. Donors can also assist their recipients in other ways, such as through career guidance and introductions to their professional networks. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact John Osterlund at josterlund@luc.edu.

As you assess your philanthropic priorities, please consider supporting the School of Law through Rambler Rally, a 24-hour fundraising event on March 17, 2026. This initiative, which invites all alumni and friends to participate, advances our mission while raising critical funding to ensure we continue to provide meaningful opportunities for our students.

The School of Law offers a robust slate of programming, and I encourage you to join us for these exciting events. On March 27, the Curt and Linda Rodin Center for Social Justice will present its annual symposium. This year’s event is “Building Better: Strengthening Structures and Supports for Emerging & Young Adults.” The symposium is approved for 4 hours of CLE credit. You can register to attend in person or virtually.

Lastly, please mark your calendar for September 18-19, Law Reunion Weekend 2026. You’ll receive more information soon, and we hope to see you there.

Thank you for your continued dedication to our mission and to our students as we continue to advance the goals and strategic priorities of our law school. I appreciate everything you do.

Sincerely,
Michèle Alexandre 
Dean and Professor of Law