# Summer Law Institute

Five-week summer law program at seven New York City law schools for students who just finished 8th grade: criminal-justice classes taught by law students, culminating in a mock trial before real judges.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Legal Outreach |
| Category | leadership |
| Cost | Not listed |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 8–9 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | New York, NY |
| Time commitment | ~35 hours/week |
| Apply | https://legaloutreach.org/overview-application/ |

## About this program

# Summer Law Institute

The Summer Law Institute (SLI) is Legal Outreach's entry-point program for New York City eighth graders heading into ninth grade. For five weeks each summer, students report to one of seven partner law schools - Brooklyn Law School, Cardozo, Columbia, CUNY, Fordham, NYU, and St. John's - where law students and practicing attorneys teach them criminal justice and legal reasoning.

## What You'll Do

- Attend class Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm, on a working law school campus
- Study criminal justice topics with law students as instructors and interact daily with attorneys
- Take field trips to courts and other legal institutions around New York City
- Learn mock trial skills: direct and cross examination, opening statements, and closing arguments
- Compete in a culminating mock trial argued before real judges

## Who Should Apply

Eighth graders from Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens who are entering ninth grade in the fall. Legal Outreach serves low-income students from under-resourced NYC neighborhoods, and admission is need-aware: last cycle 99% of participants received at least a partial scholarship and nearly 80% attended on a full $5,000 scholarship.

## Outcomes

SLI graduates become eligible to apply for Legal Outreach's four-year College Bound program, which layers on constitutional law debate, attorney mentorship, summer internships, writing academy, SAT prep, and college application support through the end of high school.

## Frequently asked questions

### Who is eligible for Summer Law Institute?

Summer Law Institute is open to students in grades 8–9 (middle and high school). Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Summer Law Institute online or in person?

Summer Law Institute is an in-person program based in New York, NY. Expect a time commitment of roughly 35 hours per week.

### How do I apply to Summer Law Institute?

Apply directly through Legal Outreach's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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