Admitting more women and expanding its reach, NIU’s College of Law has entered a period of notable growth.

With the Giorgi Legal Clinic established in Rockford and enrollment at 51 percent female this year, progress is evident, said Leroy Pernell, dean of the college since 1997.

Established in 1979, the law school is much younger than most prominent law programs, and alumni numbers are not as high as some schools. But the school still has no trouble seeking support from outside sources.

“We have been fortunate to have faithful alumni and donors, and the school is becoming increasingly successful,” Pernell said.

Among the biggest donors are former NIU faculty member Francais X. Riley and the late Zeke Giorgi, for whom the Rockford clinic is named. Giorgi was a state representative from Rockford, and his daughter, Barbara Giorgi Vella, a member of NIU’s Board of Trustees, was instrumental in starting the downtown clinic, Pernell said.

“He worked hard to help out NIU,” Pernell said. “Although he is deceased, his family continues to support the work he started.”

The clinic opened in early January and serves the dual purposes of educating students and providing legal services to those in need, Pernell said. It’s staffed by experienced law students who work on real domestic disputes and cases leading to alternative dispute resolution. Giorgi Vella has provided a $20,000 scholarship to jump-start law students at the clinic.

Most of the clients will be people who cannot afford legal counsel.

“The clinic provides extended opportunity to students and gives them hands-on experience to supplement their education,” Pernell said. “Clinical education has become a standard feature at top-quality law schools across the nation, and we are proud to now offer it at NIU.”

Outside help, meanwhile, has increased the law school’s notoriety, Pernell said. With fewer than 3,000 active alumni, NIU boasts almost 40 judges across the state.

“We have a lot of judges considering the proportion of alums,” he said. “This spreads our influence of our law school all over Illinois. We would like to continue this trend, [and] that is why we like to bring in many speakers, influential judges and lawyers to inform our students of the present state of law.”

In early February, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments at NIU.

“It was a good experience for our students to see the second highest court in the nation right at our school,” Pernell said.

Also, former NIU law faculty member John W. Darrah was appointed to the U.S. District Court by former President Bill Clinton. Darrah was the first NIU alumnus to become a federal judge.

“Our commitment is not only to the education of our students but to the community in which we live and practice as well,” Pernell said. “We plan to continue our mission to be one of the nation’s premier law schools. I cannot think of a more exciting environment to begin the new millennium in for legal education, than the Northern Illinois University College of Law.”