A program for those thinking about attending law school

The Summer Partnership in Law (SPIL) program offers college students and graduates a law school experience to help them learn if law school is for them. Nearly half of SPIL participants have gone on to law school since the program started in 1990. If you have been out of the academic world for some time or want to discover William Mitchell's community, we encourage you to apply for the SPIL program.

An intensive orientation to law school through:

More information

William Mitchell Office of Multicultural Affairs

(651) 290-6422

MA @wmitchell.edu

Applying

Submit an application, college transcript, and one-page essay on why you are interested in law school.

Registration deadline: May 15, 2008

SPIL program application PDF, 31 Kb

Undergraduate and Metro State University students must also register with Metro State. Contact:

Laurie Salin, Metro State University

(651) 793-1238

Laurie.Salin
@metrostate.edu

Primary legal resources, including our Warren E. Burger Library
Introduction to important study and exam skills
Full use of all campus facilities and resources
Small classes taught by full-time or adjunct William Mitchell faculty

The two courses in William Mitchell’s SPIL program are:

The American Legal System - a course covering some basic elements that make up the American legal system, starting with the way lawyers think. It describes the process of law, and goes into units covering the basic application and interpretation of law. The units focus on two areas of law: Torts and Criminal Law. Students are given a mix of case law and statutory law, and are shown how the law is applied in hypothetical situations. Classroom instruction is given as a standard law school presentation. The final exam will test students as law students are tested, by applying law to hypothetical fact situations.
Legal Reasoning and Writing - a workshop covering basic legal reasoning, the logical process used in legal thought and analysis. It includes some basic writing and exercises to demonstrate analytical skills, and is a preview of the Legal Writing program all law students take in their first year.

Summer 2008 program

June 17–July 30, 2008
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings
6–8 p.m.
Final exam the last week in July
Tuition: $706 + purchase of required textbooks
Tuition due when classes start

College and university credit

Many colleges and universities accept SPIL classes for undergraduate credit in independent study or as part of a pre-law or political science curriculum. Please check with your institution for transfer credit criteria, and contact Laurie Salin at Metropolitan State University, laurie.salin@metrostate.edu or (651) 793-1223 to register for undergraduate credit.

Applying for the program