Summer Start

Accelerated Program

Want to finish law school almost a year ahead of schedule? Summer starters who choose the Accelerated Program can complete their J.D. in a little over two years by attending school during summer and winter.

Here's how it's done:

Financial Considerations

For students worried about the cost of law school, the Accelerated Program is one way to keep your debt under control. Because tuition is on a per-credit payment system, you'll still end up paying about the same amount of tuition. So if the cost is the same, how do summer starters in the Accelerated Program save money?

1. One less year in living expenses.
2. Start your career one year early, providing a bonus year of employment.
3. No student fees for the third year.
4. Your scholarship may be affected depending on the terms of your scholarship. The terms will be available at the time of admission.

More Information for Summer Starters

How to Apply

The requirements and process for enrollment in the Summer Start program are the same as for the J.D. program, with the following exceptions:

• The deadline to apply for the Summer Start program is April 15.
• You will apply using the J.D. application on the LSAC website. The first question of the application asks whether you are applying for the "Fall Session" or "Summer Session." Please mark "Summer Session."
• Your choice of session is not binding until March 15. If you want to change your selection, you must inform the Admissions Office by that date.

Tuition

KU Law charges students on a per-credit basis, so tuition will be higher in your first year but lower in your second and third years. Comparing fall starters to summer starters demonstrates the difference:

Scholarships

Most scholarships are awarded per year, not per credit, and are disbursed in the fall and spring semesters. For example, if you have been awarded a $5,000 scholarship in the first year, you will receive a $2,500 award in the fall semester followed by a $2,500 award in the spring semester. Scholarships that are awarded on a per-credit basis will cover summer classes. For example, Jayhawk, Oread and Rice Scholarships will fully apply to summer classes.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available for summer starters. For more information, please contact the KU Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.

Information for 2023 Summer Starters

Summer 2023 Textbooks

• Lawyering Class: "A Lawyer Writes: A Practical Guide to Legal Analysis" (3rd Edition)
  Author: Christine Coughlin, Joan Malmud, Sandy Patrick
  Published by: Carolina Academic Press 2018
  ISBN: 9781531008765

• Criminal Law: Professor Stacy Course Pack (New Only).
  Note: Professors Yung and Stacey are putting together the course pack. Copies will be available near the start of the summer semester.
  Author: Non-Returnable Course Pack
  ISBN: 2810000111228
  Status: Required (not yet available)

• Torts: "Basic Tort Law: Cases, Statutes, and Problems" (5th Edition Hardbound)
  Author: Arthur Best, David W. Barnes, Nicholas Kahn-Fogel
  Published by: Wolters Kluwer
  ISBN: 9781454895220

First-Day Assignment

Go to Federal Courts  and read the information contained in the sections below. Please also watch this short video on state and federal courts. 

1. Federal Courts and the Public
2. Court Role and Structure
3. Comparing Federal and State Courts
4. About the U.S. Courts of Appeals

Read Chapters 1-2 in your Lawyering Skills textbook - "A Lawyer Writes: A Practical Guide to Legal Analysis." We will cover Chapter 3 on Monday.

Summer 2023 Class Schedule: First-Year Courses

Summer Starter Orientation and Lawyering Skills:

• May 18, 19, 22

First Session Class Dates:

• May 23 - June 21 (no classes on Memorial Day, May 29)

First Session Exam Dates:

• Torts - June 19
• Criminal Law - June 21

Second Session Class Dates:

• June 22 - July 21 (no classes on Independence Day, July 4)

Second Session Exam Dates:

• Torts - July 19
• Criminal Law - July 21

Summer Starters Report for Fall Orientation:

• Aug. 21, 22, 23

2023 Entering Student Program Schedule for Summer Starters

May 18-19, 21-22
August 21-23

Room 203, Green Hall (unless otherwise noted)

This schedule is subject to change.