NSLC Summer Law Program
Do you think you may want to be a lawyer? The NSLC’s summer law program provides a high-quality and engaging inside look at various aspects of the legal process.
“At the National Student Leadership Conference’s high school summer law program, the courtroom becomes your classroom as you assume the role of trial attorney and battle for justice. Work hand-in-hand with practising attorneys as you examine the evidence, research the issues and build your case. Guilty or innocent, prosecution or defense, you and your co-counsel affect the outcome
The NSLC’s high school summer law program uses an interactive approach to learning that gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the challenging complexities of the judicial process. You and your team will prepare and try a case in a real courtroom. You will research the evidence, prepare your witnesses, craft your arguments and ultimately present your case before a judge. Your performance will determine the fate of the accused.
Our college-level lecture series from practicing attorneys will give you a foundation of knowledge on the fundamentals of trial preparation and courtroom techniques.”
How do I get started? Click here.
How do I expand this narrative arc?
Convene a Youth Town Hall in your community to start a dialogue between young people and community leaders.
Launch a Speaker’s Corner at your school to provide a forum for discussion and debate of issues that are important to fellow students.
Consider one of the many summer programs run by The New York Times Summer Academy, including Whistleblower Journalism in D.C.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT SUMMER PROGRAMS: College admissions officers are very adept at identifying “resume padders”: expensive, one-off programs paid for by your parents which do not mesh with your narrative arc. Therefore, make sure any summer program or course you consider falls into one (or more) of these four buckets:
Highly selective/competitive
Totally unique + linked to your narrative arc
Evidence of adulthood (long hours, multi-year commitment or simply hard work)
A jumping off point or expansion for an authentic narrative arc.
If none of the above apply, a program could still have value to you if it allows you to test a potential interest. However, if it does not end up being a jumping off point for further interests, then you may not want to mention it in your high school resume