Improving Success for Non-Traditional Law Students: Summer Programs

Abstract

The article argues that non-traditional law students should be provided a summer program prior to entering their first year of law school. Specifically, the article discusses the pedagogy for Summer Institute programs for non-traditional students. Further, the article surveys 23 law schools and describes each summer program. Finally, the article discusses a survey that was sent to the last five years of Summer Institute students at Loyola. The survey asks each student to rank every component of the Summer Institute Program. The survey concludes that specific instruction on legal writing and feedback on the writing is perceived as the most helpful component for assisting non-traditional students' success. The article argues that all schools have an ethical obligation to provide summer programs for non-traditional students.