The Northern Illinois University College of Law has received American Bar Association approval to launch a part-time Juris Doctor program at the NIU Naperville campus. The program will enroll its first class in fall 2027. NIU Law plans to enroll small cohorts to foster a collaborative learning environment characterized by individualized faculty mentorship, strong peer connections and a supportive academic community. Students will learn from NIU Law’s faculty as well as experienced practitioners and adjunct instructors drawn from the legal community in the western suburbs and the greater Chicago metropolitan area.