The John Marshall Law School has kicked off construction on the first phase of its campus expansion - at 304 South State as the school begins the renovation process that will eventually open its doors to State Street with a new entrance. The first phase of the $10 million expansion will include a new entrance, student commons, book store, and food services.  Architects for the project are Griskelis Young & Harrell and the general contactor is Bulley & Andrews. John Marshall will expand its space by 50,000 square feet between the 304-08 South State building* and a newly-acquired property adjacent to the law school at 19 W. Jackson. The law school is currently housed in 255,000 square feet of space between its main campus at 315 S. Plymouth Court, the upper level floors at 304 S. State, its Fair Housing Clinic space at 55 W. Jackson, and nine floors at 321 S. Plymouth, which also houses the Chicago Bar Association. “The new face of the law school on State Street is emblematic of the many good things we are doing here at John Marshall, and I believe it will convey in part the feeling of pride we have in both our law school and our graduates,” said John Corkery, Dean of The John Marshall Law School.  “This enhanced space will help us accommodate the needs of current and future students, and reaffirm our commitment to our growing student body, our faculty, alums, and the Chicago legal community.” “The law school has recently undertaken other projects to improve its campus,” added Jordan Peters, chair of John Marshall’s Board of Trustee’s Building Committee. “We have renovated our courtrooms, added new technology in our classrooms and upgraded faculty offices in the 321 S. Plymouth Ct. Building.  Our expansion not only provides needed space but gives the law school the image and presence it deserves – right in the middle of State Street’s South Loop Education Corridor.” John Marshall last expanded its facilities in 1996 when it purchased nine floors in the 321 S. Plymouth Court building, and “we’ve simply outgrown that space as well,” said Corkery. “With 1,600 students, we are one of the largest law schools in the country – and our facilities need to keep pace with our growth.” Founded in 1899, The John Marshall Law School is an independent law school located in the heart of Chicago's legal, financial and commercial districts. U.S. News and World Report America's Best Graduate Schools 2011 ranks John Marshall in the top tier of law schools. Its Legal Writing Program is sixth in the nation; Trial Advocacy is 13th and Intellectual Property Law is 20th. John Marshall offers the nation's only graduate program in employee benefits.