SIU Simmons Law School Pipeline to Practice program students meet with judges from the Illinois Southern District at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. (Photo provided)
July 25, 2025
SIU Simmons Law School gives students a preview of legal careers
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Fourteen high achieving college students gained insight on legal careers and preparing for law school earlier this month through Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School’s Pipeline to Practice program.
The program showcased the law school and its 3+3 accelerated law program, which allows students to finish their undergraduate degree at SIU while also completing their first year of law school.
“We hope that the students gained knowledge of the legal system and hopefully could see themselves in the practice of law,” said Casey Parker, career services director at the law school.
During the three-day Pipeline to Practice program, July 16-18, students participated in a simulated law class, met with attorneys and law school faculty, attended a murder sentencing hearing and toured the Jackson County Courthouse, and observed a court hearing in the U.S. District Courthouse in East St. Louis. The students met with circuit court and federal judges, many of whom are SIU alumni, and visited the law school’s facilities at the Southwestern Illinois Justice and Workforce Development Campus in Belleville.
Parker said 3+3 allows students to attend law school “efficiently and cost effectively.” In addition to providing students with information to applying for and attend law school, the program allowed students “to have real world observations and discussions with those in the legal profession to help them understand the practice of law and how a law degree is a valuable asset, which can lead to a variety of employment opportunities.”
Students who attended the program were from SIU Carbondale, Eastern Illinois University, Illinois State University, McKendree University, Southeast Missouri State University, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Southern Indiana.
“The Pipeline to Practice program reflects our commitment to creating pathways for talented students from diverse backgrounds to learn about the legal profession and consider careers in law,” Dean Hannah Brenner Johnson said. “We are so grateful to our alum and donor, Kyle Stokian, whose support affirms the importance of programs like this in shaping a more inclusive and community-connected legal profession.”
This is the fourth year of the program, and Parker said there are plans to continue the program next year.