Pursue Your Passion & Experience Law School at Penn Carey Law
Dates: July 5-26, 2025 (Residential) | July 7-25, 2025 (Commuter) Location: On Campus in Philadelphia, PA Program Fee: $9,499 (Residential) | $5,999 (Commuter)
The Penn Carey Law Pre-College Academy is a rigorous academic program that gives high school students from around the world the opportunity to experience law school at a world-class university. This three-week intensive academy provides you with a well-rounded introduction to the American legal system and how law is practiced in the United States.
The third week of this program exposes students to various timely and specialized fields of law, such as corporate law, business & entrepreneurship law, environmental law, administrative law, human rights & immigration law, and technology, privacy, & intellectual property law.*
To compliment the learning taking place in the classroom over the three weeks, students have the unique opportunity to meet with legal practitioners and see the practice of law in action with visits to courtrooms, law firms, and legal departments of notable institutions.
*These topics are a representation of possible focus areas. Specific topics to be confirmed closer to the program start date.
Why You Should Attend
Law School Experience at an Ivy League Institution
This one-of-a-kind opportunity allows high school students to experience an accelerated version of the first-year law school curriculum at an Ivy League university.
Access to Renowned Faculty & Thought Leaders
Drawing on the scholarship of one of the nation’s top law schools, you will learn from standing Penn Carey Law faculty and legal practitioners on cutting-edge legal issues that are shaping the United States today.
Opportunity to Pursue Your Own Interests
In addition to providing a well-rounded introduction to the American legal system, the Pre-College Academy exposes you to a range of specialized areas of law, such as business, environmental, human rights, and technology law.
Build a Strong Foundation for Future Success
The Pre-College Academy is designed to help you develop and fine-tune the communication, writing, analytical, logical reasoning, and leadership skills essential for future academic and professional success.
What Past Students Have To Say
“If you are a student that is ready for a challenging but unforgettable experience of a lifetime that will do nothing but benefit your future, the Penn Carey Law Pre-College Academy is just what you need to experience.” - 2024 Student
“A highly informative, challenging, and rewarding program where you get to learn about many aspects of the law.” - 2024 Student
Silvia Diaz L’08 is the Academic Director of Penn Carey Law’s 2024 Pre-College Academy. She also currently serves as a Senior Lecturer of Legal Practice Skills at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Diaz has over 13 years of experience practicing law as a commercial litigator, a school law attorney, and as corporate counsel. She received her JD cum laude from Penn Carey Law in 2008. She is a former teacher and has Masters degrees in English Literature and Secondary Teaching from Lehigh University and Pace University. Before returning to Penn Carey Law, she served as Senior Counsel at a large education technology company where she specialized in accessibility and discrimination, employment law, technology and data privacy.
Associate Academic Director
Carl Rosin has served as the Associate Academic Director of Penn Carey Law’s Pre-College Academy since 2014. He currently teaches English, Philosophy, and other electives at Radnor High School. Rosin graduated from Harvard College in 1988 and later received his MEd from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Named the National High School Philosophy Teacher of the Year for 2014, he has also served on the National Humanities Center’s Teacher Advisory Committee for 2018-19.
Past Participating Faculty and Presenters
Students will have the unique opportunity to engage with and attend sessions taught by a range of presenters and full-tenured standing faculty members.
In 2024, some participating faculty and presenters in the program included:*
Regina Austin L’73
William A. Schnader Professor of Law, Emerita
Cynthia Laury Dahl
Practice Professor of Law, Detkin IP and Technology Legal Clinic
John F. Hollway C’92, MAPP’18
Executive Director & Lecturer in Law
Felicia Lin
Vice Dean for Student Services and Dean of Students
Theodore W. Ruger
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law and Dean Emeritus
Tess Wilkinson-Ryan L’05, G’06, PhD’08
Golkin Family Professor; Professor of Psychology
* Faculty and presenters subject to change.
Students typically participate in classes weekdays, 9:00am to 3:00pm. Class will be held in Penn Carey Law’s state-of-the-art law school, situated within the prestigious University of Pennsylvania—an elite 284-year-old Ivy-League university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Week One & Two:
Students spend the first two weeks of the Academy taking an accelerated first-year law school curriculum, including sessions on such topics as:
Contracts
Torts/Liability
Constitutional Law
Criminal Law
Through the study of these legal subject areas, students are provided with an understanding of the American legal system, develop legal reasoning and writing skills, and experience the Socratic Method with Penn Carey Law faculty. Additionally, students have the opportunity to put the skills and content learned into practice through participation in legal exercises focused on making oral arguments, negotiating contracts, and creating a new commercial product or business.
Third Week:
The third week of this program exposes students to various timely and specialized fields of law, such as business & entrepreneurship law, corporate law, administrative law, environmental law, human rights & immigration law, and technology, privacy, & intellectual property law.*
Off-Campus Field Trips:
To compliment learning taking place in the classroom over the three weeks, students have the unique opportunity to meet with legal practitioners and see the practice of law in action with visits to courtrooms and other institutions.
In 2024, field trips included*:
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Center for Criminal Justice and Court of Common Pleas
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates (Multinational law firm headquartered in New York City)
NBCUniversal and NBC Studios in New York City for entertainment law presentation and tour.
Eastern State Penitentiary (Former Philadelphia prison turned museum and historic site dedicated to show how society’s concept of incarceration has changed overtime)
*2025 topics and field trips subject to change.
- Law school experience at a premier Ivy-League institution.
- Learn from Penn Carey Law’s world-class faculty and practitioners from the field on the cutting-edge legal issues that are shaping our world today.
- Participate in legal exercises focused on making oral arguments, negotiating contracts, and creating a new commercial product or business.
- Witness law in practice first-hand with visits to courtrooms, law firms, and legal departments of notable institutions.
- Gain exposure to a range of timely and highly specialized areas of law, such as corporate, environmental, immigration, privacy, social media, and intellectual property law.
- Develop and fine-tune the writing, speaking, analytical, and leadership skills essential for future academic and professional success.
- Introduction to life on a college campus as residential students reside together in one of the University’s state-of-the-art dormitories.
- All students who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
The Penn Carey Law Pre-College Academy has a residential option where students reside with other high school participants in one of the University of Pennsylvania’s state-of-the-art dormitories. Residential counselors will reside with students to provide mentoring and support, while also leading weekend social activities.
Beyond the classroom, residential students have the opportunity to build connections with peers from around the world with a range of on-campus activities while also exploring Philadelphia’s historic neighborhood and embarking on day trips to exciting East Coast locations like Hershey Park or the Jersey Shore.
Additionally, local Philadelphia-area students interested in attending the program may participate in the commuter option, which does not include housing, meals or evening or weekend activities beyond the classroom.
2025 tuition is $9,499 for the residential program, which includes housing, meals, and activities, and $5,999 for the commuter option for local Philadelphia-area students, which does not include housing, meals, and off campus activities.
Early Registration Savings: Students who are accepted and enrolled in the program by December 16, 2024, will receive a special offer of $250 off the program fee.
Enrollment is risk-fee with a full refund until February 1, 2025.
Additional savings available to students referred by Law School Alumni.
Admissions to the Pre-College Academy is selective and based on a record of academic achievement, interest in law, and leadership. Admissions decisions are made by the Legal Education Program Department at Penn Carey Law.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and space is limited, so we encourage all applicants to apply as early as possible.
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