Wellbeing and Support Resources

In partnership with the staff and faculty at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, the Student Services team has developed the following resources

Getting Information

• For the most up-to-date information on the Loyola University Chicago-related COVID-19 responses, visit the University’s coronavirus page. Additional general questions about Loyola’s response should be emailed to COVID-19support@luc.edu.
• For law school-specific updates, be sure to read your daily Law School Announcements e-mail and visit the webpage.
• For information regarding the Bar Examination, please see the National Conference of Bar Examiners COVID-19 Updates, or visit each state’s specific website, such as Illinois State Bar Association COVID-19 Information and Resources. Additional updates will be posted to the TWEN page “2020 Bar Review.”
• Review the Office of Career Services’ Pearson Resource Library. Be sure to check out the weekly newsletter, Pearson Weekly, for updates on learning in a remote learning environment. You can also schedule an appointment to meet remotely with your career counselor
• Join the Graduate, Professional, and Adult Student Team (GPAST) within Microsoft Teams (part of the Microsoft Office Suite) for peer-to-peer communications and resource sharing

Tending to Your Wellbeing

• Lawyers’ Assistance Program (LAP) - provides free and confidential services, including consultations, assessments, individual and group therapy, referrals and interventions, and information about how to deal with character and fitness issues. A list of Lawyers' Assistance Programs in states outside of Illinois is available here.
• Loyola University Chicago Wellness Center - provides high quality medical, mental, and health promotion services. Most services are included in the Student Activity Fee and are therefore offered free-of-charge to students, regardless of health insurance coverage.
  • Mental Health Resources – includes information on counseling, suicide prevention, mindfulness, and more. Wellness Center staff can also help you find an outside provider based on your geographical location and insurance plan
  • Make an appointment to see a provider
  • Emergency and after-hours care
  • Nutrition consultation
  • Connecting while Disinfecting - a curated list of fitness, entertainment, and wellness resources.
  • Information about COVID-19 Testing
  • Fall 2020 Wellness Center Groups
• Mindfulness Meditation
  • Take 15 minutes for yourself and join our community of law school students, staff, and faculty for supportive, guided meditation sessions. Everyone is welcome and no experience is necessary. Friendly faces provided. See Law School Announcements for the Zoom link to the twice weekly sessions. If you have any questions, connect with Prof. Teresa Frisbie, Director of the Dispute Resolution Program, at tfrisbie@luc.edu.
• Other mental health resources include:
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness – Chicago (NAMI)
  • USA Mental Health First Aid

Financial Resources

• Sign up for free remote one-on-one financial coaching with an Accredited Financial Counselor with AccessLex at AccessConnex.
• Review the Office of JD Admission & Scholarship’s Aid & Resources page for information about scholarships, fellowships, loans, and more.
• Please note that The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Sec. 3513 provides for temporary relief for federal student loan borrowers – Interest on Federal Loans is being temporarily set at 0% on direct loans from March 13, 2020, through December 2020.
• University Equipment Loan Program
• The Loyola Commitment- Offers financial assistance to students during this time of deep economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility and priority will be given to those who have utilized all existing financial aid options, including loans. Funding is available for all students, including international and DACA students. For more information on this program and how to access funds, see the Process for Graduates information on the Loyola Commitment website.

Additional Resources

• Loyola University Chicago School of Law’s Commitment to Social Justice and Racial Equity- contains a list of things you can do to take action to advance the cause of racial justice and equality
• Office of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity - Check-in with Dean Josie Gough at jgough@luc.edu. You can also join the IDE Office’s page through TWEN for resources and other communications.
• Campus Ministry – connect with Father Jerry Overbeck, Law School Chaplain, at joverb2@luc.edu.
• Weekly Community Circles- additional information forthcoming. Join the Community Circles TWEN page.
• Ombudsperson – provides confidential, neutral, and independent resources for all law students regarding matters associated with the law school experience
• Gender-Based Violence/Title IX – resources for support and safety, medical treatment, legal and/or disciplinary action
• Student Accessibility Center – works with students with documented disabilities
• Cultural Impact Initiative – student organization whose mission is to educate the community about cultural competency while advocating for groups that have been traditionally marginalized or underrepresented in the legal and educational realms. CII addresses bias incidents and points of conflict that take place amongst students, faculty, and staff. A reporting form is being developed to allow students to easily record and report incidents. For more information, e-mail Law-CII@luc.edu.

You are also encouraged to reach out directly to Dean Giselle Santibanez-Bania, Assistant Dean of Student Services, at gsantibanez@luc.edu, Jenna Silver, Associate Director of Student Services, at jsilver2@luc.edu, and any of your trusted member of your faculty and administration.