Summer Start


The summer start advantage

Start law school early and enjoy the benefits. Summer starters begin classes in late May.
A female student smiles at a classmate during an outdoor class meeting

Summer Start Benefits

As a first-year student, you may choose to begin your studies at KU Law in the summer or the fall. Summer starters enjoy several advantages, including:

  • Small Class Sizes: Summer start classes are significantly smaller than typical first-year law classes.
  • Lighter Load: You'll work hard in summer school, but you'll only be taking two classes at a time. 
  • Flexible Start: Summer starters get an 8-credit head start on completing the 90 credits required to graduate, creating the opportunity to take fewer credits per semester and still graduate on time.
  • Electives in the First Year: Because summer starters have already completed two substantive courses, they will take two elective courses in their first year.

Sample Schedule

Following is a sample schedule for the path you might take:

Sample Summer Starter Schedule
 SummerFallWinterSpring
First Year812-14
Second Year214214
Third Year-12-12
Total Credits90

More Information About the Summer Start Program

Summer starters also have the option to choose an accelerated path to their degree.

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:

Tuition Credit Hour Comparison for Summer Starters
 Fall StartersSummer Starters
First Year29 credits37 credits
Second and Third Years61 credits53 credits

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 2024 Summer Starters

Summer 2024 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 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" (6th 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 2024 Class Schedule: First-Year Courses

Summer Starter Orientation and Lawyering Skills:

  • May 16, 17 and 20

First Session Class Dates:

  • May 21 - June 20 (no classes on Memorial Day, May 29 and Juneteenth, June 19)

First Session Exam Dates:

  • Torts - June 20
  • Criminal Law - June 18

Second Session Class Dates:

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

Second Session Exam Dates:

  • Torts - July 19
  • Criminal Law - July 22

Summer Starters Report for Fall Orientation:

  • Aug. 26, 27, 28
Summer 2024 First-Year Class Schedule
Course TitleCatalog NumberFacultyRoomDay/TimeCredits
FIRST SESSION
Criminal Law814Thomas G. Stacy203MTWRF 9:00-10:202
Torts831Kyle Velte203MTWRF 10:40-12:002
SECOND SESSION
Criminal Law814Thomas G. Stacy203MTWRF 9:00-10:252
Torts831Kyle Velte203MTWRF 10:40-12:052

 

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:

Tuition Credit Hour Comparison for Summer Starters
 Fall StartersSummer Starters
First Year29 credits37 credits
Second and Third Years61 credits53 credits

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 2024 Summer Starters

Summer 2024 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 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" (6th 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 2024 Class Schedule: First-Year Courses

Summer Starter Orientation and Lawyering Skills:

  • May 16, 17 and 20

First Session Class Dates:

  • May 21 - June 20 (no classes on Memorial Day, May 29 and Juneteenth, June 19)

First Session Exam Dates:

  • Torts - June 20
  • Criminal Law - June 18

Second Session Class Dates:

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

Second Session Exam Dates:

  • Torts - July 19
  • Criminal Law - July 22

Summer Starters Report for Fall Orientation:

  • Aug. 26, 27, 28
Summer 2024 First-Year Class Schedule
Course TitleCatalog NumberFacultyRoomDay/TimeCredits
FIRST SESSION
Criminal Law814Thomas G. Stacy203MTWRF 9:00-10:202
Torts831Kyle Velte203MTWRF 10:40-12:002
SECOND SESSION
Criminal Law814Thomas G. Stacy203MTWRF 9:00-10:252
Torts831Kyle Velte203MTWRF 10:40-12:052

 

Summer Start Stats

  • Average class size: 18-22 students

  • Summer classes you'll take: Two classes in two sessions

Admissions Resources

Contact KU Law Admissions

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