Summer Pre-Law Programs

Interested in participating in a summer pre-law program?  Here is some information about opportunities that we have heard about and are passing along to you.  Applications for most of these are up and due in the next few weeks.  In fact, the application for the Chicago Kent PLUS Scholars Program is due next Monday, March 3!  Scroll down for more information!! Also — if you are still looking for summer internships, take another look at our Internship Newsletter, which we first posted in December and have re-posted several times.  http://publish.illinois.edu/prelawadvising/2013/12/19/summer-programs-and-internships-newsletter/.

Legal Education Access Program (LEAP)

Prelaw Summer Institute (PLSI)

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

The John Marshall Law School will be offering two summer pipeline programs for prelaw students. Both programs will run from Monday, July 28, 2014 through Friday, August 1, 2014 on The John Marshall Law School campus

Legal Education Access Program (LEAP) is a program for college juniors, seniors, and recent graduates interested in pursuing a legal career. This program will support diversity in the legal profession by inspiring students from groups historically under-represented in the law to become lawyers.

The program will bring together students from diverse backgrounds and provide them with the training necessary to successfully prepare and navigate the road to law school. The program will also introduce students to the law school application process and extinguish any apprehensions about applying and gaining admission.  (Housing and some meals will be provided.)

For more information please visit:  http://www.jmls.edu/diversity/programs/legal-education-access-program.php

Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) prepares historically under-represented minorities for the legal profession by introducing students to the rigors of law school. PLSI is designed to simulate the academic challenges of the first year of law school. PLSI concentrates on giving students law classes, LSAT preparation, resume preparation, career orientation, and exposure to various areas of the law. Students will learn skills on legal research and study, analysis, legal writing, and trial advocacy. PLSI is essentially a pre-law orientation that is based on teaching sound legal education principles.  (This is a non-residential program.)

For more information please visit: http://www.jmls.edu/diversity/programs/pre-law-summer-institute.php

These programs are designed to be rich in content that will assist students in preparing for the rigors of law school.  Note: admissions are rolling for both programs so interested students are encouraged to apply ASAP!  Your $25 application fee will be credited toward your registration fee if you are accepted and you register before Friday, May 2, 2014. Questions? ContactTroy A. Riddle, Director of Diversity Affairs and Outreach
The John Marshall Law School 312-987-1412

Illinois Institute of Technology, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law

PLUS Scholars Program — June 1-20, 2014

Illinois Institute of Technology, IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law is sponsoring a Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program from June 1 through June 20, 2014.   The “RECEIVED” by deadline to submit the application is this Monday, March 3, 2014. 

The PLUS program is a unique and rigorous three-week experience for current college freshmen, sophomores or juniors interested in the legal profession.  The goal is to provide students with a “taste” of the law school experience and introduce them to the admissions process.  Students will attend classes taught by IIT Chicago-Kent law professors, recognized as some of the most productive and accomplished law professors in the nation.  The program is designed to attract disadvantaged students and those from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.  The program will cover the cost of tuition, room in a residence hall, required course materials and other expenses.  Participants are paid a stipend to offset some of their meal and other expenses.  The program does not pay for any transportation expenses.

For more information and to download the application, go here: www.kentlaw.iit.edu/adm/plus. If you have questions, please contact Theda Mickey at 312-906-5133 or plus@kentlaw.iit.edu.

 Florida State University College of Law — Summer for Undergraduates 2014 Program: May 19 – June 12, 2014

The Florida State University Law School is currently accepting applications for its 2014 Summer for Undergraduates program, which provides students with an inside look at law school and the legal profession. All undergraduate students, except graduating seniors, are eligible to apply. Applicants will be notified of admission decisions around mid-April. 

Approximately 60 students will be selected to participate in this four-week program.  Daily lectures by an Florida State Law professor will familiarize students with the functions of the American legal system.  In addition, participants will also be exposed to LSAT overview workshops and a simulated exam, law school admissions sessions, visits to local state and federal courts and law offices, and guest lectures by prominent attorneys in a variety of practice areas.

The FSU College of Law provides free room and board, course materials and a travel stipend to all participants.  There is no program tuition but participants are responsible for their travel expenses to and from Tallahassee.  To apply, students must complete the online application and submit a resume, one letter of recommendation, a personal statement and a current transcript.  Applications must be submitted by Friday, March 28, 2014.  For more information or to apply, visit www.law.fsu.edu/slp.  

Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) — July 19 – 20, 2014 

The John Marshall Law School, Chicago, Illinois

Preparing talented, motivated, yet under-represented students to successfully gain admission to and succeed in law school.  Sponsored by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), the ASAP program curriculum will focus on aspects of the law school application process that are commonly overlooked or undervalued by students when applying to law school.

  • Selecting a law school,
  • Writing an effective personal statement,
  • Choosing sources for letters of recommendations,
  • Preparing strategies for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and understanding the impact of LSAT scores and Grade Point Averages (GPA) in the selection process,
  • Understanding the significance of the early application process offered by many law schools
  • Managing debt and developing credit worthiness
  • Common errors committed by law school applicants

For more information about ASAP go here! Interested in applying? Apply online NOW!

CLEO is a non-profit project of the American Bar Association.  Since 1968, CLEO has helped more than 7,000 low-income and minority students become successful members of the legal profession.  The College Scholars Program seeks to continue this standard of excellence through a collaborative effort between CLEO and colleges and universities throughout the United States.   

Other Summer Programs

Some universities also offer summer pre-law programs that include a wide range of tuition and other fees.  Make sure you carefully research all of the costs associated with these programs before you commit to anything.  

  • The University of Kansas offers its six-credit Legal History Program in Cambridge, England, July 5-August 1. Students will, among other things, take courses that explore the deep connections between the cultural and legal history of England and America, and study and compare the origins, purposes and current controversies of contemporary legal regimes in the United States and Great Britain. The application deadline is THIS FRIDAY, March 1.  Questions? Contact Professor Kim Warren, Program Director and Associate Professor of History, kwarren@ku.edu.  Go here for more information about the program, the cost and to apply: https://ku.studioabroad.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10069.  
  • Cornell University hosts its Summer Pre-Law Program in New York City, June 2-July 11. The program features a four-credit course, “Introduction to the American Legal System,” taught using the Socratic method used at most U.S. law schools and offers a limited number of selective internship placements. Admission to the program is on a rolling basis. Because enrollment is limited, you’re encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be accepted until the program is full. For more information about Cornell’s program, the cost to participate and to apply, go to:  http://www.sce.cornell.edu/ss/programs.php?v=PRELAW&s=Overview.

Free LSAT Materials!

Thanks to everyone who joined us last week for our first ever LSAT Prep Fair!  The purpose of the fair is to ensure that students learn of all the options for LSAT prep materials, and to be savvy consumers of these goods.  We were excited to see so many students turn out – and enjoyed all of the conversations!

Of course, there are free materials available online, and whether they supplement the materials you purchase or form the bulk of your preparation, you can find them at sites such as these:

http://www.casebriefs.com/blog/category/pre-law/lsat-course/

http://www.examfocus.com/lsat/

http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/lsat-prep-materials

http://www.princetonreview.com/law/free-lsat-practice-test.aspx

http://www.kaptest.com/lsat-law/kaplan-lsat-prep/free-lsat-events

http://www.lsac.org/docs/default-source/jd-docs/sampleptjune.pdf

Pre-Law Honors Society and Internships Update!

Pre-Law Honors Society Applications

The PreLaw Honors Society is accepting applications for Spring 2014! The Order of Prospective Lawyers is a great platform to meet other students on the Pre-law track, network with local professionals, and engage in numerous service opportunities. Interested applicants can complete the attached application and submit it along with membership fee to RSO Cube #28 in the Illini Union by 5:00 on Tuesday, February 18th. For those accepted, initiation will be Thursday, February 20th (Location TBD). PHS Spring 2014 App

Internships Update!

In our Winter Break Newsletter, we listed lots of internship opportunities! As a reminder, the following internship applications have upcoming deadlines. Refer to our newsletter here for more information and for application links.

  • The Michael Curry Summer Internship Program in the Governor’s office has a deadline of Feb. 28. This is a PAID summer internship for juniors, seniors, and grad students.
  • Just the Beginning Foundation internship applications are due March 1.
  • The ABA Legal Opportunity Scholarship application is due March 1.
  • Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars summer program at Chicago-Kent applications are due March 3.
  • Phebus & Koester legal internship applications are due March 15.

Also, the Career Center Paraprofessionals program applications are due this FRIDAY, Feb. 14.

This is the time of year for summer internship deadlines, so make sure you double check upcoming due dates!

FREE LSAT Practice Test! Also — don’t forget about tonight’s online chat about law school admissions!

Are you getting geared up for the June LSAT? Taking a practice LSAT is a great way to see where you are in your prep and to get a feel for what the real test administration environment is like. The Illinois Trial Team will be co-hosting a practice LSAT event with Kaplan Test Prep on Saturday, February 15, 2013 at 9:00 am in Lincoln Hall.   This is a FREE event, and all majors and years are welcome to join. Students should come to the front entrance of Lincoln Hall on the first floor and report to the information table to be directed to the practice test room.  Students must register in advance by clicking on this link:  http://bit.ly/UIUCKaplanEvents.   Contact Allen Jones at allen.jones@kaplan.com with any questions.

Free Online Chat About the Law School Admissions Process — TONIGHT, Wednesday, February 5

Pre-law students are cordially invited to participate in a free online chat about the law school admission process tonight, February 5th from 5-6pm Central time, co-hosted by MAPLA (Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors) and MALSA (Midwest Alliance of Law School Admissions).  Pre-law students should take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to gain valuable insight into the law school admissions process! In addition to law school admissions officers, our own Director of Pre-Law Advising Services Jamie Thomas-Ward will be participating in the chat. To join the chat tonight, please click on the following link:  https://msulaw.campfirenow.com/bc1bd