Session One
15-26 June 2026
Two-hour live classes Monday-Friday, with daily asynchronous assignments.
Online Program
Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
Study legal reasoning through debates, role-playing, and a mock trial while learning to weigh evidence, anticipate opposing arguments, and explore international human rights.
Last verified: 6 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Legal Studies Critical Thinking at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Upcoming
Eligibility
Grades 9-11 at application
Age range / Year group
Ages 14-17
Location / Region
Online
Cost
$3,200
Duration
2 weeks
Format
Online
Law & justiceDebatingSocial Sciences
Sessions / cadence: 2-hour weekday classes; 2-3-hour daily homework
Scheduling model: 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT meeting window
Latest verified cycle: 2026
Student support: Online office hours
Main practical activity: Mock trial
Legal Studies Critical Thinking summary
Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers a legal studies course centered on critical thinking, evidence, and persuasive argument.
Students practice through debates, role-playing, and group work before taking the role of an attorney or witness in a mock trial.
It suits students who want to test their interest in law while building reasoning skills that apply beyond legal careers.
What is Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success?
Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success is a Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes course focused on legal reasoning and persuasive argument. Lessons draw on Stanford University's law, business, and education experts to help students analyze complex facts, weigh evidence, and anticipate opposing viewpoints.
The course combines live online learning with debates, role-playing, and collaborative group work. Students explore significant international human rights issues and participate in a mock trial as attorneys or witnesses, putting their arguments into practice.
Why Succeed highlights Legal Studies Critical Thinking
The mock trial gives students a concrete setting in which to apply evidence analysis and persuasive argument.
Debates and role-playing require students to consider opposing viewpoints rather than simply memorize legal concepts.
International human rights issues connect courtroom reasoning with wider questions of justice.
The emphasis on respectful collaboration makes peer discussion part of the learning experience.
Who is Legal Studies Critical Thinking for?
Best for
Students who enjoy discussing competing arguments and want to explore law or human rights through active participation.
Not ideal if
You want passive lectures or a light extracurricular commitment, because discussion, group work, and substantial daily assignments are central.
Is Legal Studies Critical Thinking worth it?
The course has a clear educational purpose for students who want to practice legal reasoning rather than only read about law. Debates and a mock trial offer opportunities to test arguments against competing interpretations of the facts.
Its value depends on engaging fully with collaborative work and the substantial daily workload. Participation should be judged by what you learn and can explain afterward, since it does not guarantee Stanford undergraduate admission.
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Cost and what is included
$3,200; includes Two-hour live weekday classes, Online office hours, Debates, role-playing, and group work, Mock trial participation.
Dates and time commitment
2 weeks; 2-hour weekday classes; 2-3-hour daily homework.
Provider details
Review the Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
What the student gains
Potential output: The main practical culmination is participation as an attorney or witness in a mock trial.. Check whether feedback, certificate, recommendation or application evidence is included.
Online support and safeguarding
Check how online sessions are supervised, how mentor communication works, and what support route exists if the student needs help.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, session schedule, payment terms, cancellation rules, support expectations and what output or certificate 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 Legal Studies Critical Thinking need?
Effort level
High during the course.
Best started
Begin application preparation several weeks before your intended summer cycle, allowing time for transcripts, independent responses, and a course-specific work sample.
Main challenge
Building persuasive arguments while taking opposing evidence and viewpoints seriously.
Typical preparation
Gather recent grade reports and transcripts before completing the application.
Choose a work sample that follows the course's application instructions and reflects your abilities.
Write every application response yourself and review it carefully before submitting.
Plan a daily study routine that accommodates live classes and independent work.
Useful if
You want to test an interest in law and strengthen critical thinking.
What do students do on Legal Studies Critical Thinking?
You practice building and challenging arguments through live discussion, role-playing, and collaborative exercises. The course culminates in a mock trial where students take the role of an attorney or witness.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Learn to analyze complex facts and weigh evidence.
- 2
Practice anticipating opposing arguments through debates and role-playing.
- 3
Work collaboratively while considering diverse viewpoints and international human rights issues.
- 4
Participate in a mock trial as an attorney or witness.
Legal Studies Critical Thinking 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
Session Two
6-17 July 2026
Two-hour live classes Monday-Friday, with daily asynchronous assignments.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Session One | 15-26 June 2026 | Local | Reference date | |
Session Two | 6-17 July 2026 | Local | Reference date |
Eligibility and requirements
Be in Grades 9-11 at the time of application.
Domestic and international applicants may apply.
Standardized test scores are optional.
Admitted students may attend only one course.
How much does Legal Studies Critical Thinking cost?
Financial aid
Domestic and international participants — Aid can be awarded to participants from either group.
What's included
Two-hour live weekday classes, Online office hours, Debates, role-playing, and group work, Mock trial participation
How to apply to Legal Studies Critical Thinking
- 1
Read the official admissions instructions and select the course in the online application.
- 2
Complete all application responses yourself.
- 3
Upload recent grade reports and transcripts, plus a work sample following the selected course's instructions.
- 4
Upload standardized test scores only if you choose to include them.
- 5
Pay the application fee and review all materials before submitting.
- 6
Have a parent or legal guardian review and sign the completed application.
Next step with Succeed
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Learning format
Students attend a two-hour live online class Monday-Friday within an 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT meeting window, with the third hour reserved for online office hours. They should also plan for approximately 2-3 hours per day of asynchronous assignments and projects.
Students attend one course section and meeting time; exact class and office-hour schedules are set closer to the program start.
Mentorship and feedback
Lessons draw on Stanford University's law, business, and education experts.
The third hour of the daily meeting window is reserved for online office hours.
Collaborative work emphasizes respect for diverse viewpoints and a supportive peer network.
Time-zone considerations
- Both sessions use an 8:00-11:00 a.m. PDT meeting window.
- Live classes last two hours and take place Monday-Friday.
- The third hour is reserved for online office hours.
- Exact class and office-hour schedules are set closer to the program start.
- Allow approximately 2-3 additional hours daily for asynchronous homework.
Assessment style
Learning centers on applied argumentation through debates, role-playing, collaborative work, and a mock trial.
- Analyze complex facts and weigh evidence.
- Practice anticipating opposing arguments in debates.
- Develop argumentative skills through role-playing and group work.
- Take an attorney or witness role in a mock trial.
- Complete assignments and projects outside live classes.
Portfolio / outputs
Main deliverable / output
The main practical culmination is participation as an attorney or witness in a mock trial.
Legal Studies Critical Thinking FAQs
You will study evidence analysis, critical thinking, and persuasive argument, alongside significant international human rights issues. Activities include debates, role-playing, group work, and a mock trial.
No. The course is valuable for students interested in legal careers, but its critical thinking and argumentation skills can benefit students with other interests.
Expect a two-hour live class Monday-Friday plus approximately 2-3 hours per day of asynchronous assignments and projects. The third hour of the meeting window is reserved for online office hours.
No. Standardized test scores are optional for both domestic and international applicants.
Applicants must complete all responses themselves so the application reflects their own interests and abilities. Parents or legal guardians review the completed application and sign afterward.
Yes. Aid can be awarded to both domestic and international participants.
Stanford's undergraduate admissions process is separate and independent. Participation does not guarantee admission; the educational value lies in how students learn, grow, and develop their curiosity.
Alternatives to Legal Studies Critical Thinking
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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
- Questions: Application - SI | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
- Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success | Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
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 course page reviewed
Session dates checked
Grade eligibility reviewed
Daily workload checked
Application requirements reviewed
Financial aid eligibility checked
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.
Legal Studies: Critical Thinking for Courtroom Success
by Stanford Pre-Collegiate Studies
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