There are two types of summer programs available for pre-law students: undergraduate exposure programs, and post-graduate preparatory programs.

Undergraduate Exposure Programs

Cornell University Pre-Law Program: The Nature, Functions, and Limits of Law

Preparatory Programs

The UCLA Law Fellows Program

On behalf of the Academic Outreach Resource Center at UCLA School of Law

The Law Fellows Program provides early academic outreach to high-potential undergraduate, recently graduated, and graduate students with strong academic backgrounds and a minimum 3.3 cumulative GPA at a four-year undergraduate institution.  The program is committed to ensuring equity, access, and excellence in legal education.  A strong preference is granted to applicants whose experiences reflect limited familial exposure to post-collegiate education, career opportunities, mentoring, and social support systems. Additional consideration is also given to applicants who have overcome economic and/or educational hardships and challenges, or come from, or have demonstrated experience in economically or educationally underserved communities.  The Program focuses on students’ academic development, with the objective of increasing the participants’ academic competitiveness for admission to law school.  Law Fellows are strongly encouraged to participate in outreach activities aimed at serving the various community segments of Southern California.

Law Fellows attend a series of Saturday Academies held at UCLA School of Law in the winter and spring, where they are provided with academic enrichment, career development activities and mentoring designed to de-mystify law school and the legal profession, and also present these objectives as viable options.  The program prepares participating Law Fellows to successfully enter and excel in top law programs and, eventually, legal careers.  Through the Saturday Academies, Law Fellows are afforded access to a variety of events, programs and services, including:

• Professional-Level Instruction by Law School Faculty
• Personalized Juris Doctorate (Law Degree) Action Plan
• Mentoring by Current UCLA Law Students
• Admissions, Financial Aid and Public Interest Law Workshops
• Legal Research Training by Law Library Staff
• Full Scholarships for LSAT Preparation Course
• Presentations by Practicing Attorneys and Leaders in the Law Community
• Follow-up Activities and Counseling until Law School Matriculation

For any additional information, please contact UCLA at (310) 794-4157 or Outreach@law.ucla.edu.

Council on Legal Education Opportunities (CLEO)

"CLEO is a program designed to assist economically and educationally disadvantaged individuals who experience difficulty in gaining admission to law school because of less than "traditionally "acceptable scholastic achievement and/or academic credentials. CLEO provides a six-week, in-residence, summer institute experience that previews and acclimates students to the first-year rigors of law school; assists Fellows in law school placement after successful completion of the program; and, provides a living expenses stipend for three years of law study."

National Institute on Legal Education (NILE)

"[ Nile ] believe[s] that preparation is the key to success both in law school and the legal profession. NILE is the premier law school preparatory course in the nation. Since 1989, NILE has been preparing students for the challenges and rigors of law school. Thousands of students have relied on NILE to gain a competitive edge and to achieve their personal best."

Individual School Programs

Some schools offer preparatory courses for their own incoming students. A few of these are open to students who plan to attend other instutions. You may inquire with individual institutions about their programs and policies.