Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school located in the heart of Chicago. Founded in 1859, Northwestern Law uniquely blends a rigorous intellectual environment with a collegial and supportive community. The school emphasizes a team-oriented curriculum inspired by an employer-focused strategy with the understanding that succeeding in today’s complex business environment requires an ever-expanding set of professional capabilities. Northwestern was the first law school to have pioneered the accelerated J.D. program. In addition to the traditional and accelerated J.D. program, Northwestern is one of the few law schools to offer a J.D./MBA and a J.D./PhD. Northwestern uses its innovative combination of teaching and pioneering research to further its mission of advancing the understanding of law and producing graduates prepared to excel in a rapidly changing world.