Our People | Simmons Law School | SIU

Welcome to the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School. I am honored to serve as Dean and look forward to introducing you to our vibrant community. Like many of you, I am new to SIU this year. It was an easy decision for me to return to my home state of Illinois and join this great institution. Here are just a few of the things I think you will love about our law school.

Location. Nestled in picturesque southern Illinois, SIU Simmons Law School students enjoy the amenities of a major research institution and the charm of a small college town while being close to several major cities including St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Chicago. SIU Simmons Law School is one of four public law schools in Illinois, and the only law school in the southern region of Illinois.

Mission. In 1973, the Illinois legislature established the SIU Simmons Law School in the public interest to serve the public good. Having recently celebrated our 50th anniversary, we remain steadfastly committed to our mission to transform our students into the lawyers and community leaders of tomorrow, empowered with the knowledge and skills to improve the lives of their clients and communities. Due to a generous gift from John and Jane Simmons in 2024, the school was renamed the Simmons Law School.

Faculty. The small class size and low student-to-faculty ratio fosters a closely-knit community of learners. Our students are taught by experienced faculty who are committed to excellent teaching and are nationally and internationally known scholars. They improve the law through their innovative scholarship and advocacy on issues of criminal justice, immigration, health care, disability rights, trusts and estates, intellectual property, and much more.

Curriculum. SIU Simmons Law School will prepare you for whatever career path you desire. We are small by design; therefore, individualized legal preparation begins before the first day of classes. 

We also offer concurrent degree programs include JD/MD (School of Medicine), JD/MSW (Social Work), JD/M.Acc. (Accounting), and JD/MBA (Business Administration).

Our award-winning clinical programs give students the opportunity to provide legal services to the community in areas of law that include domestic violence, elder law, juvenile justice, and veterans’ benefits.

Community. We are committed to diverse ideas. SIU Simmons Law School students engage with their colleagues by participating in various student organizations. They also participate in award-winning moot court programs, organize and produce topical law journal symposiums, and travel to foreign countries to engage with the global legal community. Additionally, they volunteer their time with many community organizations.

SIU Simmons Law School’s intellectual community is further enriched by annual lecture series, including the Hiram H. Lesar Distinguished Lecture, the John and Marsha Ryan Bioethicist-in-Residence, the Gene and Katy Simonds Lectureship in Democracy, and the Beatty Jurist-in-Residence. In March of 2025, we hosted the Illinois Supreme Court on campus and our community had the opportunity to observe two court cases, watching the law in action.

Alumni. We are incredibly proud of our alumni. The SIU Simmons Law School has produced more than 180 judges. Our alumni are in 49 states, as well as international locations. They are partners in major law firms, in-house counsel, politicians, leaders of nonprofit organizations, diplomats, JAG Corps officers, hospital administrators, wealth managers, and so much more.

I encourage you to spend time on this website to get to know us and explore our course offerings and student activities. You will find our faculty to be extremely accessible. They are excellent teachers and scholars and I encourage you to learn more about their research. In addition to this website, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Then, come visit and see for yourself all that SIU Simmons Law School has to offer. If you are interested in applying to law school, please contact our admissions office to schedule a virtual or in-person visit. You can also reach out to me directly. We look forward to meeting you. It’s great to be a Saluki!

Hannah Brenner Johnson
Dean and Professor of Law
Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School