NIU will host its 13th annual law symposium from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Holmes Student Center’s Clara Sperling Skyroom.

Presenters from several areas in law will speak to NIU students, faculty and area professionals.

“I’m certain there will be students as well as faculty from NIU’s law school,” said Dennis Shields, associate dean of admissions at Duke University Law School and one of the presenters at the symposium. “There will probably be professionals from the Chicagoland area present as well.”

Shields, who was born and raised in Iowa, said he is excited to return to the Midwest for the symposium.

Shields said LeRoy Pernell, dean of NIU’s College of Law, is a longtime friend and colleague and asked him to speak.

“I’ve been an assistant dean of admissions at Iowa and later at Michigan. I will be talking on my experiences with that,” Shields said.

Shields said he also will discuss his work as a defendant in a case alleging that the University of Michigan gave unfair admission opportunities to minority groups.

Amy Miller, symposium editor and a law student at NIU, said the event is open to everyone but focuses mostly on students and faculty.

Students who wish to attend the lunch session are charged $15. “The morning session is free, but priority seating will go to those who paid.”

Visit www.niu.edu/claw for more information and a full list of speakers.