Dr. Stephen Patton

Instructor

Build a Statement of Purpose

Generate a tailored SOP for Dr. Stephen Patton. Improve your application with a focused, well-structured draft.

Biography

Stephen R. Patton is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Chicago Law School. He is a retired partner from the Litigation Practice Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he had extensive experience in trying cases and arguing appeals in both federal and state courts throughout the country, particularly in a variety of commercial disputes. During his tenure at Kirkland & Ellis, Patton held various leadership positions, including chair of the Firm’s Litigation Management Committee. He served as the City of Chicago’s Corporation Counsel and was a senior legal advisor to Mayor Rahm Emanuel from 2011 to 2017. Upon his return to the Firm, he focused on pro bono impact cases, such as Ramirez v. ICE and Karnoski v. Trump, where he played a pivotal role in significant legal battles concerning immigration and military service for transgender individuals. Patton has been recognized by his peers as one of Illinois’ “Top 100 Super Lawyers” and has received accolades as one of America’s Leading Lawyers in Business Litigation/General Commercial. His work has been acknowledged in the Legal 500 U.S. and Global Counsel’s Dispute Resolution Handbook.

Research Interests

Experience

Lecturer

2019-01-01 — Present

University of Chicago Law School • Chicago, IL

Teaching law with a focus on litigation and public interest advocacy.

Retired Partner

1978-01-01 — 2011-01-01

Kirkland & Ellis LLP • Chicago, IL

Practiced law as a senior litigation partner, focusing on complex litigation and commercial disputes.

Corporation Counsel

2011-01-01 — 2017-01-01

City of Chicago • Chicago, IL

Served as a senior legal advisor to the Mayor, managing legal affairs for the city.

Requirements for University of Chicago Law School

Master Program
Requirements
TOEFL
Total
Required:104
IELTS
Listening
Required:7
Reading
Required:7
Writing
Required:7
Speaking
Required:7
Overall
Required:7
Prerequisites
A first degree in law (JD, LLB, or equivalent) from a law school outside the United States
Application Checklist
  • Online application
  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
  • Two to four letters of recommendation
  • Personal statement
  • Resume/CV
  • LSAC LLM Credential Assembly Service (CAS) report
Specialization Notes

The LLM program is designed for lawyers trained outside the United States to gain an understanding of the American legal system.