Michael Burns

About Michael Burns

Mike Burns is a nationally respected law school admissions professional with thirty years of experience in law school administration. Throughout his career, he has served as an admissions officer at four law schools and evaluated more than applications for law school admission. He is also a former board member of the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC).Most recently, Mike served on the senior leadership team at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. During his tenure at Northwestern Law, he served as Director of Admissions & Financial Aid; Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; and Chief of Staff to the Dean. Prior to joining the Office of Admissions at Northwestern Law, Mike served in the administration at DePaul University College of Law for more than fifteen years. From 2003 to 2018 he served in various administrative positions, including Assistant Dean for Enrollment Management, Director of Law Admissions, and Associate Dean for Student Affairs. From 1994 to 1996, Mike served as a Legal Writing Instructor and Assistant Dean for Law Career Services at DePaul Law. He also worked as Assistant Dean for Admissions at Chicago-Kent College of Law from 1996 to 2003. While at Chicago-Kent, he was appointed to the positions of Director of Academic Support, Director of the Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars Program, Adjunct Professor, and Associate General Counsel for the Illinois Institute of Technology.Mike is passionate about diversity in legal education. He is a frequent speaker on college campuses about the law school admissions process, the benefits of a law school education, and how applicants can leverage their background and experiences to maximize their opportunities in the law school admissions process.Mike is a 1992 graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the DePaul Law Review and served as Vice President of the Student Bar Association. In 2022 he received a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University.

Experience

1. Executive Director of Recruitment & Admissions Consultant

   Spivey Consulting Group

   Aug 2024 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

Education

• Northern Illinois University

  B.S., Community Health

  1985 — 1987

• DePaul University College of Law

  J.D., Law

  1988 — 1992

Skills

• Higher Education
• Student Affairs
• Academic Advising
• Enrollment Management
• Career Counseling
• Admissions
• Higher Education Policy
• Academic Administration
• Legal Research