Law Seminar
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Enhance Your Legal English This Summer
The Law Seminar is an intensive introduction to the American legal system designed to prepare you to enter law school in the U.S.A. or work in the field of law in an international context. Make international connections, learn about the American legal system and the legal English it requires.
Students who wish to apply to the Law Seminar must have an advanced level of English and a minimum of three years of undergraduate study in law or a related field. Many Law Seminar participants are practicing lawyers.
Date: Program dates: Session B, July 1 - August 2, 2024
Application deadline: May 6, 2024
Our application for Summer 2024 courses and programs is now open.
Law Seminar Daily Schedule*
| Class | Days | Times |
|---|---|---|
| The U.S. Legal System and the Constitution | MTWTHF | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm |
| Oral Communication Skills | T/TH | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
| Written Communication Skills | M/W | 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm |
| Legal Topics and Profession in Film | T | 6:30 pm - 8:45 pm |
*Individual schedules may vary. This is for reference only.
Law Seminar Courses
The U.S. Legal System and the Constitution
This content-based class is taught by an attorney and professor of law. The lectures and Socratic method of teacher-student dialogue are intended to provide an authentic learning situation that mirrors a lecture class in a U.S. law school. Class content includes civil procedure, contracts, professional responsibility, constitutional law, criminal law, torts, and corporate law, among others. Contemporary US legal principles and their historic origins are presented including the right to freedom of speech, religion, privacy, and civil rights. Students also prepare their own arguments based on their reading of an actual case and participate in teams of four in a Moot Court debate before a panel of student judges and the professor.
Tip: Participants will be offered the opportunity to take field trips. In past years, participants have visited places such as:
- A federal and state correctional facility (a prison)
- State and federal courts to observe a criminal trial and to meet with judges before and after the trial
- The United Nations in New York City
Written Communication Skills
This class reviews various rhetorical modes such as summary writing and paraphrasing, reports and reactions, and writing to persuade while using legal contexts and vocabulary. The class also provides instruction in reading strategies, reading and interpreting a legal contract, as well as writing a case brief, business letters, a contract, and a research paper among other legal formats. Students practice writing in the ‘irac’ format, which is used for law school essay exams and on the Bar, and participate in an online debate. Finally, students prepare a simulated conference for which they conduct research, give formal presentations, and write reactions. Refine your persuasive writing and argumentation.
Oral Communications Skills
This class focuses on effective speaking in a variety of legal contexts including interviews, discussions, debates, presentations and group projects. Student will have exposure to practitioners and their approach to legal communication both inside and outside the courtroom, and practice formal and informal oral presentation skills and build confidence in speaking in a semi-professional context.
Legal Topics and Profession in Film
The evening class provides an opportunity to practice reading strategies and to consider ethical dilemmas facing the legal profession. The traditional role and image of lawyers as described in Anthony Kronman’s The Lost Lawyer is discussed in depth along with portrayals of lawyers in excerpts from films. Students complete a research paper, often in conjunction with their writing class on a relevant topic of their choice including an ethical issue in their country and ways to resolve it.
Tuition and Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition - Law Seminar | $6,035 |
| Application fee (nonrefundable) | $75 |
| Visa processing fee | $100 |
| Medical insurance fee for 5 weeks, estimated | $130 |
For other fees and residential costs, please visit our Tuition and Fees page. All tuition and fees, including room and meal charges, must be paid in full by Friday, June 7, 2024.
Financial Assistance
Yale Summer Session only offers financial assistance to Yale College students. Financial assistance is not available for visiting students at this time. Visiting students should contact the financial aid office at their home institutions to discuss their options for financial assistance.
Application Information
To apply, review the application requirements for international students and fill out the Yale Summer Session application. The English Language Institute programs are offered under Yale Summer Session B course listings. Proof of English proficiency is not required for this program.