OU students get free taste of law school at Cooley Law School

By Katie Land, news editor

All Oakland University students considering a law degree have the opportunity to get a taste of law school at no cost through a unique program at Cooley Law School.

This program offers a significant advantage to students planning to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The program includes courses in logic and critical reasoning, law school classes, legal writing, two practice LSAT exams, mock trial experience and career exploration luncheons with judges and lawyers.

The program is sponsored by Oakland, Cooley and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO). CLEO is a non-profit project designed to expand opportunities for minority and low-income students to attend law school.

“For more than 40 years, CLEO-sponsored programs have helped thousands of college students all over the country experience what law school is like and improve their analytical reading, writing, and standardized test skills so that they are better prepared for the LSAT,” said John Nussbaumer, associate dean for Cooley.

Last year, the participating students improved their pre and post test LSAT scores by an average of five points, and saw their writing test scores improve even more, Nussbaumer continued.

There has been a strong positive response from student participants, who have commented on the quality and value of instruction.

Students are also allowed the option of earning two credits of academic work for successfully completing the program. To qualify for this, the students would pay for two credits of tuition.

Through the Summer Institute, students will be exposed to an intensive preview of law school and legal careers. Those who are accepted are not charged any fees and a $750 stipend will be awarded.

This opportunity is open to all OU students, however to be accepted requirements for admission must be met. For more information and to apply to the institute, visit the website or view the flyer.

The Free Summer Institute will be held on Cooley’s campus in Auburn Hills during the month of June. Oakland students must apply by Sunday, May 15.