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SKILL SHARPENER
Michigan’s Summer Start Unique Among Top Law Schools [by Erica Winter] Despite the fact that University of Michigan Law School’s Summer Start option has been around for decades, it could turn out to be one of the better-kept secrets in law school education.
Summer Start at University of Michigan
eficial to those who have been out of school
The law school does not have a year-round
Law School in Ann Arbor, is such a simple
for a few years and need some time to get
calendar; only the first-year summer starters
concept—start law school early—that it is not
acclimated to academic life.
take law classes in Ann Arbor in the summer.
impact on a law student’s overall educational
All students who are accepted early decision
Summer starters get a break from classes
experience, however, is pivotal.
to Michigan Law do summer start. In addition,
the summer after their first years, along with
regular applicants who want to do summer
their fall-starting colleagues. They work or
Michigan Law divides its entering law school
start indicate this on their applications and
do internships, return for two semesters the
classes into four groups of about 90 students.
are considered for the early start.
next year, and work again the next sum-
Two things weigh in students’ favor for Sum-
semester of classes in their third years
Start each year, explains Sarah Zearfoss, As-
mer Start admission: flexibility and time out
and graduate in December. Some take a
sistant Dean and Director of Admissions.
of college. There are three boxes available
semester off in the middle of their law school
for an applicant to check off when applying
studies—to have children, work on a political
The system is simple. A summer starter at
for regular admission to Michigan Law: fall
campaign, or do an extended externship—and
Michigan Law begins law school around June
start, summer start, or either one. Those who
graduate in May with the rest of their class.
1 and takes two assigned classes and a legal
prefer a fall start will not be considered for
writing course. For the fall semester, he or
summer start. Those who select “either one”
Michigan Law, like most top law schools, only
she takes three assigned classes and legal
give a good impression, says Zearfoss, being
ranks its students after graduation. Summer
writing. Then, in the winter semester, he
flexible and demonstrating their desire to
starters are ranked in late May, along with
or she takes one assigned class, and three
come to Michigan Law at any possible time.
the other members of their class who have
even considered to be a “program,” really. Its
mer. Many summer starters take one more
One of these groups, or one quarter of firstyear law students, is accepted to do Summer
just graduated. Class rank is de-emphasized
electives. Those who indicate “summer start” are con-
at Michigan Law, since all of those admitted
With fewer courses to contend with at once,
sidered for the program, but can hurt their
are talented. “You have a really smart student
summer starters can “perform to the best of
images if they are accepted for summer and
body,” says Zearfoss.
their abilities,” says Professor Philip Frost,
then bargain for a fall start instead, warns
Associate Director of Michigan Law’s Legal
Zearfoss. Doing this “is not a good tactic,”
Students do know their GPAs throughout
Practice Program. Frost will teach Legal
says Zearfoss. Michigan Law Admissions staff
their Michigan Law careers, however, and
Practice I and Legal Skills to first-years this
members “don’t like bargainers.”
this can be an arena where the summer starters are at an employment advantage,
coming summer. Few summer starters are coming right out of
says Frost. By the end of their first year,
All the other Michigan Law first-years start
undergrad. Doing five semesters in a row is
summer starters have three semesters worth
in the fall semester taking three assigned
a tough job, and there is a potential for burn-
of classes and grades to show employers, not
classes plus a legal writing course; in the
out. Plus, on a more practical level, it’s hard
just two. Summer starters will have complet-
winter semester, they have three required
to move to another state and get settled—let
ed all of their required first-year courses and
courses, one elective, and legal writing.
alone trying to do it in two weeks between
progressed deeper into their electives.
undergraduate graduation and the beginning Summer Start is a “slow ramping up” of law school, says Zearfoss, and is especially ben-
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of the summer start semester.
This can give summer starters an advantage as employers come to campuses “earlier
continued on back
SKILL SHARPENER
and earlier,” says Frost, recruiting for 2L summer jobs in the fall of students’ second year—most with only two semesters of law school under their belts. For many, this 2L summer job will be their first job offer out of law school, so “this is why students get so anxious” about their first-year performance, says Frost. The summer start “makes sense,” says Frost, allowing a slower pace with fewer courses.
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