Wake Forest Law School Summer Pre-Law Program for Undergraduates

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1 Wake Forest Law School Summer Pre-Law Program for Undergraduates OVERVIEW Investing in the Wake Forest Summer Pre-Law Program will provide you with a realistic view of what law school life is like to help you make your decision about what to do after graduation. This program consists of two courses taught in the Law School that qualify for credit from the Wake Forest College: Legal Theory, Practice and Communication (Communication 370D) and Advocacy, Debate, and the Law (Communication 370E). Legal Theory, Practice and Communication is designed to introduce you to the process of legal education, the legal system and legal analysis. You will learn what law school classes are really like and engage in tasks that lawyers actually do, whether trying a case, or drafting legal documents. This course is highly experiential and will involve applying legal principles in realistic scenarios. The class will also visit some legal institutions and meet the legal professionals who staff them. Advocacy, Debate and the Law is designed to explore the fundamentals of communication theory, focusing on argumentation techniques in oral advocacy and their applications within the legal environment. You will participate and receive critique in interactive exercises such as political speeches, debate, trial practice, and moot court arguments. The Program has the following features: Classes are taught by Wake Forest Law School professors in a Law School style; Each class receives 3 hours of Wake Forest College credit (a total of 6 credit hours); Writing assignments will have individualized feedback; Public speaking assignments will have individualized feedback; In addition to the professors, law student teaching assistants will assist you with assignments and speak with you informally but candidly about life in law school; A small student/teacher ratio allows you to network with Law School faculty; A small student/teacher ratio provides access to career and law school application counseling; Social events allow informal contact with Law School faculty and practicing lawyers. 1

2 TESTIMONIALS (Students) This program has definitely confirmed that I want to go to law school, and has definitely confirmed for me the difficulties and advantages of going to law school. You know, it was great to learn about the different areas of law, and Professor Coughlin and Professor Parker did a great job of making it fun and interesting for undergraduates. (Ian Rutledge WFU class of 2015) It s better to take this and pay the money for four weeks than pay the money and go to law school and realize you are in the wrong place. (Colton Morrish ( 14)). It renewed my interest in law school I m still going, I still definitely want to do it. It definitely showed me the career path that I don t want to take, and has more focused my path on what I do want to take. (Ayanna Wade ( 13)). This program has definitely confirmed that I want to go to law school, and has definitely confirmed for me the difficulties and advantages of going to law school. You know, it was great to learn about the different areas of the law, and Professor Coughlin and Professor Parker did a great job making it fun and interesting for the undergraduates. (Ian Rutledge ( 15)). I took this program because I wanted to see if law school would be an option for me, or something that I would be interested in doing in the future because I recently just graduated.... The program was more than I ever expected, I got so much out of it. I was impressed with all the topics they covered in such a short period of time, and I felt like I really learned what it is like to attend law school and what a career in law would entail, and I just felt it was a great experience, and it gave me a behind the scenes look of what is law school. (Vanessa Schwartz ( 12)). I was inspired by these classes to pursue law. I always knew I wanted to go to law school, but these classes made me appreciate every part of the law, and we kind of got into every little taste of the different types of law. And I didn t know what I wanted to pursue, but now I have more of a clear path, and what even more surprised me more was how interested I am in the Wake Law School, because originally I was thinking I wanted to venture outside Winston-Salem. But now the program impressed me so much I really want to consider it. (Caroline Ehret ( 14)). Since I was a little kid I wanted to be a lawyer, so I thought this would be a great way to get a feel for law school and see if this was the correct career path to follow down. I m more certain than ever that I want to go to 2

3 law school. I also found certain aspects of the law that I am more interested in than others. (Colton Morrish ( 14)). I am hoping to go to law school after I graduate this year, and it definitely affirmed my goals, and it was a good precursor. I didn t really know what to expect from law school but now I feel like I have an understanding of what to expect as a first-year law school student. (Kevin Sullivan ( 13)). PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS Law school is too expensive to test drive. For this reason, we developed the Summer Pre-Law Program to give you a realistic version of law school life and educate you about career opportunities for lawyers. The program consists of two courses that are taught in the Law School but qualify for credit from the College: Legal Theory, Practice and Communication (Communication 370D) and Advocacy, Debate, and the Law (Communications 370E). The program features the following qualities: Courses team-taught by professors from the Law School and Communication Department. Each class receives 3 hours of Wake Forest College credit (a total of 6 for the Program); Writing assignments and public speaking have individualized feedback; Law student teaching assistants meet and assist you with assignments and speak informally and candidly about life in law school; Small student/teacher ratio allows you to network with the Law School and Communication Department faculty; You will have access to career and law school application counseling; and Social events will allow you to have informal contact with faculty and practicing lawyers. The program has received rave reviews from the former students. In fact, one of the students in our inaugural class who recently applied to law school (with our assistance) was accepted at several top ranked law schools. We look forward to seeing the acceptance rates and institutions for this past year s class. However, even if you decide after taking the 3

4 Program that you do NOT want to apply to law school, you will have still taken excellent classes, benefitted from the significant individualized feedback, and learned much civics, public speaking, and the way that the law impacts your life. I am hoping to go to law school after I graduate this year, and it definitely affirmed my goals, and it was a good precursor. I didn t really know what to expect from law school but now I feel like I have an understanding of what to expect as a first-year law school student. (Kevin Sullivan ( 13)). PARENTS It s better to take this and pay the money for four weeks than pay the money and go to law school and realize you are in the wrong place. (Pre-law Program student Colton Morrish (WFU 14)). This summer, we will again offer our Pre-Law Program for Undergraduates. This program consists of two courses taught in the Law School that qualify for three credit hours each from the Wake Forest College: Legal Theory, Practice and Communication (Communication 370D) and Advocacy, Debate, and the Law (Communication 370E). The primary purpose of this Program is to show your student what law school is really like. Law school is far too expensive to engage in a test drive for a whole year and some college students in the past have applied to law school simply because they could not decide what else to do after graduation. This Program gives college students a realistic view of law student life and educates them about the career opportunities of lawyers. After participating in this Program, some students may well decide that law school is not for them. Better now than later! Many students, however, have had their interest in law school confirmed and emerge committed, enthusiastic, and better prepared for law school and their chosen career path. For the latter group of students, the Wake Forest Law School faculty members in the Program are available to help them with counseling about selecting an appropriate law school and to provide guidance on the law school application process. Since we will have gotten to know the students, we will also gladly write letters of recommendation about your student s ability to do work in law school. The classes in the Pre-Law Program for Undergraduates are not simply regular Law School classes that we open to undergraduates in the summer. Rather, the classes are part of a unique Program designed to expose undergraduates to a wide variety of subjects and tasks that law students and practicing lawyers confront. The 4

5 courses were developed in consultation with Wake Forest College s nationally ranked Communication Department and each student will engage in multiple public speaking and writing exercises skills that will assist your student in law school or any career. We are convinced of the educational value of this Summer Pre-Law Program for Undergraduates. To that end, we have gotten the Dean of the Law School to agree for this year to help to subsidize it. The Admissions Office will waive the application fee for any student who attended the Program this year who later applies to Wake Forest Law School. Furthermore, if that student is admitted and enrolls at Wake Forest Law School, the student will receive a tuition credit for the 1st year equal to the amount spent for tuition in attending the Summer Program. That s right you could get the Law School to pay you back for the money spent on tuition this year for the Summer Pre-Law Program! FACULTY To tell you a bit about the Program Directors, Professor Parker teaches Constitutional Law and has been at Wake Forest Law School for 31 years. Professor Coughlin is the Director of the Law School s Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research Program and has been at the Law School for 12 years. Professor Parker has been voted Professor of the Year by the graduating class and Professor Coughlin has received the Joseph Branch Award for Teaching Excellence and the Wake Forest University Teaching and Learning Center s Teaching Innovation Award. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. When and where will the program take place? The program is scheduled for the first 4 weeks (May 29, 2013-June 20, 2013) of the first Term of Summer Session. Legal Theory, Practice and Communication (COMM 370D) will meet from 9:00-12:00 Monday-Thursday and Advocacy, Debate and the Law (COMM 370E) will meet from 1:30-4:30 Monday-Thursday. Both classes will meet in Room 2321 of the Worrell Professional Center. 2. How do I register? You can register right through the Wake Forest Summer School website. 3. What are the benefits of the program? The benefits of this program are numerous. You will obtain a realistic view of law student life and the career opportunities available to lawyers. You will hone your writing and public speaking skills. You will learn much about communication theory, argumentation, civics and the way that the law impacts your life. Further, 5

6 if participating in the Program confirms your desire to attend law school, then law school faculty and staff members are available to help you with counseling about selecting an appropriate law school and the law school application process. Faculty members may also be able to write letters of recommendation about your ability to do work in law school. 4. What if I am uncertain that I want to go to law school? Investing in this program then will provide you with a realistic view of what law school life is like to help you make your decision. After participating in this Program, you may well decide that law school is not for you. Better now than later! However, even if you do not apply to law school, you will leave the Pre-law Program with greater self-confidence and an increased speaking ability, benefits that will assist you in any career. 5. I know I want to attend law school so how will I benefit from the Program? After participating in the Pre-Law Program, you will be much better prepared for the challenges that await you in Law School. You will have already participated in Socratic dialogues in class, you will already understand the structure and theory of our legal system, you will have had an overview and understand basic theory for each of the doctrines in the common first-year curriculum, and you will have already written and received feedback on papers by actual law professors. 6. How much does it cost? The cost is $3,240 per course, which includes the summer school course fee plus and additional course fee as this is a special program course. While a student is free to enroll in either course independently, the classes are going to be taught in a coordinated fashion and acceptance preference will be given to students who enroll in the Program. An interested student would receive maximum benefit from enrolling in both classes. We are convinced, however, that the Summer Pre-Law Program is an investment in your future. To that end, we have gotten the Dean of the Law School to agree for this year to help to subsidize it. The Admissions Office will waive the application fee for any student who attended the Program this year who later applies to Wake Forest Law School. Furthermore, if that student is admitted and enrolls at Wake Forest Law School, the student will receive a tuition credit for the 1st year equal to the amount spent for tuition in attending the Summer Program. That s right you could get the Law School to pay you back for the money spent on tuition this year for the Summer Pre-Law Program! 7. Can I take just one of the two courses? 6

7 Yes. However, while you may enroll in either course independently, the classes will be taught in a coordinated fashion. Due to the high demand, acceptance preference will be given to students who enroll in the Program. An interested student would receive maximum benefit from enrolling in both classes. 8. Tell me more about the faculty. Professor Parker teaches Constitutional Law and has been at Wake Forest Law School for 31 years. Professor Coughlin is the Director of the Law School s Legal Analysis, Writing, and Research Program and has been at the Law School for 12 years. Professor Parker has been voted Professor of the Year by the graduating class and Professor Coughlin has received the Joseph Branch Award for Teaching Excellence and the Wake Forest University Teaching and Learning Center s Teaching Innovation Award. The participating Communication Department Faculty are Dr. Jarrod Atchison and Dr. John Llewellyn. Dr. Atchison is the Director of Debate, whose expertise lies in Argumentation and Public Advocacy. Dr. Llewellyn s expertise lies in rhetorical criticism, organizational communication, and freedom of expression. 7