The school was originally the law department of the Old University of Chicago under the founding direction of Henry Booth[6] and enrolled twenty-three students.

In the 1930s, the school was home to the Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory, which student Fred E. Inbau would direct and from which he would train prosecutors and police, leading to the Reid technique of deceptive interrogation to obtain confessions.

[10] In July 2024, a lawsuit was filed by a conservative group against the university citing its activities to increase the hiring of women and people of color for its faculty, as a violation of federal law prohibiting discrimination for reasons of race or sex, one year after affirmative action college admissions in the United States was struck down by the Supreme Court of the United States.

The proximity to courts, commerce, and public interest activities enables students to experience the practice of law, as well as its theory.

[14] The law school's practical philosophy is manifested in a strong preference for applicants with at least two years of work experience.

[17] According to Northwestern's official 2022 ABA-required disclosures, 94% of the Class of 2022 obtained full-time, long-term employment ten months after graduation.

Northwestern's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 4.4%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2018 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation.

The Journal's stated goal is to promote an understanding of the future course of international legal developments as they relate to private entities.

Prior editors include: Roscoe Pound, long-time dean of Harvard Law School; Judge Robert A. Sprecher of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; US Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens; Dean James A. Rahl; Illinois Governor Daniel Walker; and former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission Newton N. Minow; US Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg and Presidential Candidate Adlai Stevenson.

[33] It was inspired by the Paris Salon des Refusés and aims to discuss legal issues in a way that is more accessible to the general public, as well as help readers trying to understand more difficult works.

In 2000, the Clinic was named for Northwestern University trustee and alum Neil Bluhm, a billionaire in real estate and casinos.

Through the law school's clinical program, students gain direct experience representing clients and fine-tune their skills as advocates.

It also focuses on raising public awareness of the prevalence, causes, and social costs of wrongful convictions and promoting reform of the criminal justice system.

In certain instances, where a case involves significant federal issues or interests, students will also participate in state appellate court work.

Clinic cases generally focus on immigration, qualified immunity, and criminal sentencing and post-conviction issues, although other topics and matters are covered as well.

[41] Attorneys, a social worker, and affiliated professionals help second- and third-year law students meet with clients, research legal issues, learn pretrial investigation, interviewing, and counseling skills, and litigate cases.

Clients include technology executives, consultants, inventors, manufacturers and sellers of consumer products, musical groups, and persons interested in establishing nonprofit organizations.

The Center is also heavily involved in teaching in the field of entrepreneurship law, and hosts symposia and conferences to facilitate that endeavor.

The degree program is designed for students from transitional democracies and for those with career interests in international human rights law.

During the last few years, the (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority)(FINRA) and other organizations have taken steps to make more information and services available to investors.

In particular, the Center is focused on helping to meet the needs of women, novice investors, and the elderly, in connection with securities arbitration.