Chicago-Kent College of Law Viewbook - (Page 90) 19th Century Beginnings & 20th Century Evolution Chartered in 1888 as the second law school in Illinois, Chicago College of Law merged in 1900 with Kent College of Law, named after New York Chancellor James Kent, one of the most eminent jurists of the 19th century. The law school opened its doors to women and minorities at a time when that was rare. Early graduates include the second African-American woman licensed to practice law in the United States, and the founder of the Chicago Defender, the largest African-American newspaper in the country. After merging with Illinois Institute of Technology in 1969, Chicago-Kent advanced to national prominence in legal education. It pioneered the use of computers in studying law, generated scholarship on issues at the intersection of law and technology, and created a skills program among the most dynamic in the country. 21st Century at a Glance Chicago-Kent continues its historic commitments to academic excellence, technology, skills-based learning, and public service. Others have taken note. Within the past few years, Congress chose Chicago-Kent to create an institute devoted to the study of the legal and ethical implications of nanotechnology, gene patents, and reproductive technologies. The World Intellectual Property Organization selected the school to help conduct seminars in international copyright law, and the Shanghai Intellectual Property Bureau sent officials here for training. Moreover, the law school’s Web-based Access to Justice initiative, developed to assist individuals who cannot afford attorneys, has received two national awards. Chicago-Kent’s trial advocacy team won the 2007 National Trial Competition out of a field of 280 teams. Finally, Chicago-Kent recently received the Diversity Award from the Council on Legal Education Opportunity for its work to bring individuals from backgrounds underrepresented in the legal workforce into the profession. On Chicago-Kent’s proud legacy: www.kentlaw.edu/overview/dateline.html http://www.kentlaw.edu/overview/dateline.html
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