The Summer Start Advantage

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 fundamental 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 in 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.

But what about your scholarship?
Scholarships are awarded on a semester basis, so you will not be able to use the third year. For example, if you have been awarded a $2,500 per year scholarship, you will receive $5,000 total over two years.

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. Question 1 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 April 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
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.

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

Info for 2014 Summer Starters

If you were admitted as a summer starter, your class schedule is listed below. Classes will meet every weekday. You do not need to enroll yourselves in summer classes because the law school registrar will enroll you in mid-May.

Once enrolled, you will be able to see your course materials list in Enroll & Pay. But if you choose to get your books before the list is viewable, please check the KU Bookstore website. The site is updated continually and doesn’t have a listing for LAW summer classes just yet. Once the LAW classes are viewable, you can find the book information by using the course information listed below.

During orientation we will cover the first-day assignments and how to access them.

First-Year Courses

First-year courses will be taught in traditional 80-minute time periods over 18 class days.

New Student Orientation/Lawyering Skills classes: Thursday, May 22 -Friday, May 23
Lawyering Skills class: Tuesday, May 27