How to Think Like a Lawyer
How do lawyers make decisions? What skills do lawyers draw on to gather information? How do they use evidence to make decisions, while avoiding the pull of emotions? In this course, you will learn how to think like a lawyer. You will discover a disciplined way of asking questions. You will be encouraged to look beyond the obvious and make decisions based on evidence and analysis of the information you must consider. You’ll separate fact from opinion and exercise the skills you need to be a lawyer and a critical thinker. Want to explore a future in law? This course is for you.
Program Dates
Various 2- and 4-week sessions throughout the year
Eligibility
For students completing grades 9—12, ages 13+
Fees
$1495
How does the law work?
Go inside the legal profession
Discover the day-to-day life of an attorney. Gain an in-depth look at what a lawyer does. Practice making a fact-based argument. Delve into the evidence and compare and contrast fact versus opinion, and gain the skills needed to make informed decisions.
Know the difference between intellectual and emotional decisions
Write arguments that support a decision, and consider the ethics of your point of view. Examine the role “fairness” plays in justice and debate your position while aiming for consensus.
Evaluate a situation and determine if the acts are actually a crime
Learn how “crime” is defined. Analyze the factors that lead to the criminal incidents. Explore the connection between individual values and society’s values, and review real cases.
Dig into the evidence—circumstantial, forensic and physical
Review evidence to compose and defend your argument. Distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information. Gain insight into the path of a criminal case through the justice system, using a famous murder case.
Study the Lululemon case—what does it reveal about the system of law?
Compare the ways defense and prosecuting attorneys use facts and create arguments in a real case. Analyze evidence and learn how to construct a legal timeline. Delve into issues such as ethics in law, plea bargains, and rights to appeal.
Explore college majors and future careers in law
Topics covered in this course offer a good background for potential college majors and career paths related to law, such as lawyer, judge, paralegal, and law clerk.
How You Will Benefit
- Be able to ask the right questions
- Know how to separate evidence from emotion
- Understand the difference between the defense and prosecution
- Gain the experience of studying real world law cases
- Understand the role ethics plays in the judicial system
- Acquire the ability to debate your side of an argument successfully
- Explore future college majors and careers in law
- Determine if law is a field that interests you
- Complete a final capstone project to demonstrate what you’ve learned
- Earn a Certificate of Completion from Georgetown University
Three Learning Advantages
Final Capstone Project — You Be the Judge
Assume the position of a judge and issue a court opinion of guilty or innocent
- Based on what you’ve learned, you will issue an official court opinion in a case involving two people accused of looting during a state emergency
- After reviewing the witness testimony, evidence, and law, you will rule in favor of either the prosecution or the defense
- Finally, write the Court's decision explicitly stating the reasons for your ruling
Mentoring
You’ll receive guidance from a Georgetown University mentor who will support you and answer questions throughout your learning experience. You can expect:
- Encouragement and direction on all assignments
- Inspiration and motivation to help you succeed
- Brainstorming to help you prepare for your capstone project
- Feedback on your final project
Flexible Learning
All online courses culminate in a final project that allows you to:
- 100% online learning that works with your schedule
- 20 to 30 hours of total instruction and coursework, including engaging multimedia, simulations, and assignments featuring Georgetown University professor Charisma Howell. This flexible format allows you to tune in anytime that works for you
- Regular online live group sessions with a Georgetown university mentor
- The opportunity to meet fellow students from around the world
Apply now for the next available course
July 11 - July 25
Law: How to Think Like an Attorney
Length: 2 weeks
Cost: $1495
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 4, 2021
July 25 - August 8
Law: How to Think Like an Attorney
Length: 2 weeks
Cost: $1495
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 18, 2021
August 1 - August 29
Law: How to Think Like an Attorney
Length: 4 weeks
Cost: $1495
Application Deadline: Sunday, July 25, 2021
All course options, whether two or four weeks, have the same educational content, learning materials, and number of assignments. We are offering a condensed version of the course in order to accommodate students’ individual schedules.
Hear from Georgetown University
Course designed by Georgetown University Faculty
Charisma Howell, JD
Profesor Howell has taught student-centered methods domestically and internationally for over a decade at the graduate and undergraduate levels for legal professionals, laypeople and policymakers. She graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Business Management and obtained her law degree from California Western School of Law. She also earned a Master of Laws in Advocacy from Georgetown University Law Center.
Meet Your Mentors
Esmeralda
Pre-law student at Georgetown University studying government. Member of the Community Scholars Program.
Preet
Pre-law student at Georgetown University studying the science of foreign service, government, and diplomatic studies.
Brett
Juris Doctor, Georgetown University Law Center. Clerk for a justice on the Pennsylvania state supreme court.
Victoria
Law student at Georgetown University Law Center. Co-President of the American Constitution Society, Outreach Coordinator of Prosecution Programming for the Georgetown Criminal Law Association, a member of the Trial Advocacy Team, and a legal volunteer with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program Criminal Record Sealing Unit.
Bryanna
Law student at Georgetown University Law Center. B.A. in Business Administration and B.A in Political Science.
How to Apply
It’s easy. No transcripts or letters of recommendation are required. Our application asks you to provide the following:
- Basic contact information for you and your parent or guardian
- Why you wish to take this course, and a bit of your story, through writing, video, photos—any media you prefer
Begin the guided process. It should take only a few minutes to answer the questions.
Begin the process.
Want to know more?
Sign up for more information and we’ll be in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will you be graded? What are assignments like? How much time do you have to turn around a project? When do you find out if you're admitted? Find answers to your questions here.
Answers to Your Questions HereScholarships
We offer need-based scholarships in each cohort to students exhibiting high potential and an inability to pay full tuition. If you would like to be considered for a scholarship but you:
- Haven't applied to the program, complete your application now. The scholarship application is included.
- Applied to the program and didn't fill out a scholarship request, reach out to us at support@precollegeonline.georgetown.edu for assistance.
- Are unsure about whether or not you applied for a scholarship, reach out to us at support@precollegeonline.georgetown.edu for assistance.