Application deadline
1 April 2026
Summer 2026 on-campus application cycle.
In-person Program
Think Like A Lawyer: Argue, Analyze, Advise
Explore legal interpretation through client cases, written analysis and moot court, with courtroom observation and insights into law school.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Think Like A Lawyer at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Rising sophomores, juniors, seniors; 3.0 GPA
Age range / Year group
Ages 15-18
Location / Region
Evanston, Illinois, United States
Cost
$3,625; $5,235
Duration
2 weeks
Format
In-person
Law & justiceDebating
Accommodation: University residence hall or commuter
Meals: Room and board with residential option
Certificate / Outcome: Northwestern transcript and certificate
Latest verified cycle: Summer 2026
Campus experience: Lakefront campus; 2 course field trips
Tutors / faculty: Maurine Berens, J.D.
Sessions / cadence: 10 x 3-hour classes, Monday-Friday; outside-class work
Think Like A Lawyer summary
Northwestern's IN FOCUS law seminar introduces the reasoning behind legal practice, from interpreting rules to advising clients.
You read legal sources, write client-case analyses, collaborate on problems and argue in moot court. Court observation and a law school visit connect classroom work with professional practice.
It suits students who want to test whether they enjoy careful legal reading and reasoned argument as much as the idea of a legal career.
What is Think Like A Lawyer: Argue, Analyze, Advise?
Think Like A Lawyer: Argue, Analyze, Advise is an IN FOCUS seminar in Northwestern University's College Preparation Program. It introduces creative legal interpretation within the American common law system and previews how legal reasoning shapes law school learning and professional communication.
Students read statutes and judicial opinions, apply rules to client problems and communicate their analysis in writing. Collaborative exercises and moot court develop practical argument skills, while visits to Federal Court and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law offer perspectives from judges and current law students.
Why Succeed highlights Think Like A Lawyer
Client-based problems make legal interpretation a practical task rather than an abstract introduction.
Written analysis and moot court let students test both sides of legal communication.
The instructor brings law school teaching, public-defense and legal-services experience.
Two course field trips connect classroom reasoning with court practice and law student perspectives.
Successful completion produces an official Northwestern transcript and certificate.
Who is Think Like A Lawyer for?
Best for
Students curious about legal reasoning who want to practise close reading, client-focused writing and oral argument before choosing a pre-law path.
Not ideal if
You want a mostly observational experience or cannot commit to consistent attendance and group work outside class.
Is Think Like A Lawyer worth it?
The seminar offers a useful test of whether you enjoy the actual work behind legal arguments: reading closely, interpreting rules and explaining their application. Its mix of written analysis, moot court and professional visits gives you several ways to assess that interest.
The strongest value is subject exploration and skill development, rather than an admissions advantage. The financial commitment is substantial, and Northwestern explicitly says participation does not guarantee university admission; compare the campus experience with less expensive ways to explore law.
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A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$3,625; $5,235; includes Commuter total includes tuition and the program fee., Residential total includes tuition, the program fee, room and board., Course activities include two field trips., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Official Northwestern transcript and certificate upon successful completion..
Accommodation
University residence hall or commuter
Meals
Room and board with residential option
Provider details
Review the Northwestern College Prep provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
2 weeks; Evanston, Illinois, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Think Like A Lawyer need?
Effort level
High for a short introductory seminar.
Best started
Four to six weeks before the next announced application deadline; allow longer for international travel planning.
Main challenge
Turning complex legal sources into clear advice and a defensible argument.
Typical preparation
Gather the required transcript semesters and outline your extracurricular activities.
Draft the personal statement around a rewarding academic experience and your specific interest in legal study.
Practise summarizing a legal rule and explaining how it applies to a short hypothetical case.
Plan housing, travel and any required English proficiency testing early.
Useful if
You want to test your interest in law school learning.
What do students do on Think Like A Lawyer?
You work through client-based legal problems and practise explaining how the law applies in clear written and spoken arguments. Collaborative work and professional visits help connect legal reasoning with the people who use it.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Read statutes and judicial opinions to identify relevant legal principles.
- 2
Apply those principles to client cases and draft concise written analyses.
- 3
Work with classmates on legal problems inside and outside class.
- 4
Prepare and argue a case in moot court.
- 5
Observe a Federal Court trial or hearing and speak with the judge afterward.
- 6
Tour Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and have lunch with a panel of current law students.
Think Like A Lawyer dates and deadlines
Next cycle not announced yet. These dates are from the latest verified cycle and should be used as a reference only.
Reference date
Programme dates
19-31 July 2026
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 April 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Programme dates | 19-31 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Rising high school sophomores, juniors or seniors.
Complete freshman, sophomore or junior year before attending.
Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Domestic and international applicants are eligible.
English proficiency scores required when primary language or schooling isn't English.
How much does Think Like A Lawyer cost?
Program fee
$3,625 — Summer 2026 commuter total.
Funding or discounts
- Residential total: $5,235 — Includes room and board.
- Application fee: $60 — Non-refundable.
- Deposit: $1,000 — Non-refundable; applied toward the total cost.
- Tuition scholarship: Need-based — Domestic rising seniors with strong academic and extracurricular achievement.
- Application fee waiver: By application — A student and parent or guardian submit the waiver form.
- International insurance: $67 per week — Charged to international students without US-based medical insurance.
What's included
Commuter total includes tuition and the program fee., Residential total includes tuition, the program fee, room and board., Course activities include two field trips., Wildcat Connect: Get Ready Series workshops., Official Northwestern transcript and certificate upon successful completion.
How to apply to Think Like A Lawyer
- 1
Use Northwestern's on-campus College Preparation admissions process for IN FOCUS seminars.
- 2
Prepare approximately 500 words answering the academic-experience and program-interest questions.
- 3
List extracurricular activities with dates, descriptions and your role.
- 4
Arrange English-language transcripts covering one, three or five semesters for your school stage.
- 5
Provide TOEFL, IELTS or DET scores if your language or schooling requires them.
- 6
Complete the online application and pay the $60 application fee or obtain a fee waiver.
- 7
After admission, submit the $1,000 deposit within three weeks to secure enrollment.
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What does Think Like A Lawyer cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Legal interpretation
Explore how legal rules are created, changed and interpreted in the American common law system.
Statutes and judicial opinions
Read legal sources and apply their principles to client cases.
Legal writing
Communicate client-focused legal analysis in clear, concise written form.
Moot court
Prepare and argue a case while practising oral legal communication.
Law school and legal careers
Preview law school learning and gain practical perspectives through court and law school visits.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Think Like A Lawyer?
A typical day during the program.
Seminar classes
Monday-Friday, 2:00-5:00 PM Central Time, across two weeks.
Collaborative work
Groups work on several legal problems; additional hours are not fixed.
Who teaches on Think Like A Lawyer?
Maurine Berens, J.D., is a Clinical Associate Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Her experience includes fifteen years as a professor, work as a Cook County Public Defender and legal-services practice advising low- to moderate-income families.
Where do students stay on Think Like A Lawyer?
Residential plan
- University residence hall: Students live on campus with common areas and quiet study rooms.
- Dining and dietary support: Room and board includes dining-hall access, with vegan options and dietician support.
- Residential staff: Resident Directors and trained Residential Advisors support academic and social adjustment.
- Campus resources: Students can access libraries, computer labs, athletic facilities and beaches.
Non-residential plan
- Off-campus living: Commuters must stay with a responsible adult over 18 throughout the program.
- Activities and excursions: Commuters can join the Get Ready Series, excursions and resident activities.
- Meal purchases: Commuters can purchase meals at Norris University Center.
Residential students may explore without staff accompaniment, subject to residence-hall check-out and return check-in requirements.
What happens after Think Like A Lawyer?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Official Northwestern transcript and certificate upon successful completion.
Written legal analyses developed from client-based problems.
Experience preparing and presenting a moot court argument.
A clearer understanding of law school learning and legal careers.
Practical strategies for success in pre-law and law school study.
Participation does not guarantee admission to Northwestern University.
Where does Think Like A Lawyer take place?
The College Preparation Program is based on Northwestern's 240-acre lakefront campus in Evanston, Illinois, immediately north of Chicago. The seminar also includes visits to Federal Court and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
Think Like A Lawyer FAQs
You will study creative legal interpretation, read statutes and judicial opinions, and apply legal rules to client problems. Activities include written analysis, group work and moot court.
The course includes two field trips: a Federal Court trial or hearing with a judge discussion, and a Northwestern Pritzker School of Law tour with lunch alongside a panel of current law students.
Maurine Berens, J.D., teaches the seminar. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and previously worked as a Cook County Public Defender and a legal-services attorney.
Successful completion earns an official Northwestern University transcript and certificate. A Satisfactory grade requires attendance and participation in all classes and completion of all assignments.
IN FOCUS students can choose a residential or commuter option. Students living off campus must stay with a responsible adult over 18 for the program's duration.
The residential total includes room and board, with university dining-hall access. Dining options include vegan dishes and dietician support for special dietary requirements; commuters can purchase meals at Norris University Center.
Applicants need a 3.0 cumulative GPA, a personal statement of approximately 500 words, an extracurricular activities list and high school transcripts. IN FOCUS accepts unofficial transcripts; English proficiency scores may also be required.
No. Northwestern states that College Preparation Program participation is one part of an application profile and does not guarantee university admission.
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources & verification
Source types reviewed
- International Students, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Campus Life, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Admission, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Tuition and Fees, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- Northwestern Pre-College Online Program
- FAQs, Northwestern College Preparation Program: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
- 2026 Application Fee Waiver Form
- IN FOCUS Seminar Series | Northwestern SPS: School of Professional Studies | Northwestern University
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 6 Oct 2026)
Official seminar page checked
Application requirements reviewed
Historical deadline verified
Residential and commuter totals checked
Certificate criteria reviewed
Housing and international guidance reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Think Like A Lawyer: Argue, Analyze, Advise
by Northwestern College Prep
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