Program Overview

Introduction to Summer Law Program

The Summer Law program at Suffolk University is designed to provide students with the opportunity to earn credits towards their law degree during the summer months. This program is open to current Suffolk Law students and non-Suffolk students who have completed the first year of law school in good standing at an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

Eligibility

• Non-Suffolk Law Students: Students who have completed the first year of law school in good standing at an American Bar Association-accredited law school may enroll in summer classes at Suffolk Law.
  • Must present a letter of good standing from the Dean of their law school in addition to the Suffolk Law summer session application.
• Current Suffolk Law Students: Must be in good standing to enroll in summer classes.
  • Registration opens in March.

Program Details

• Summer law classes are taught by Suffolk's full-time tenured law professors as well as retired judges and respected legal practitioners.
• Classes meet at night, starting at 5:30 p.m. or 7:35 p.m., in six-week sessions.
• All elective classes are offered as live/synchronous instruction, with some classes offered in person.
• Available courses include:
  • Advanced Legal Writing
  • Antitrust
  • Business Entity Fundamentals
  • Character/Fitness For Professional Success (In Person)
  • Compliance Practice Seminar
  • Consumer Law
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Family Law
  • Intellectual Property
  • Interviewing & Counseling
  • Negotiation
  • Professional Responsibility
  • Transactional Skills
  • Trial Advocacy - Summer I (In Person)
  • Trial Advocacy - Summer II

Acceleration Through Summer Law Classes

• Evening JD Suffolk students wishing to accelerate their program by one semester must petition an associate dean for special administrative approval.
• Requirements for acceleration include:
  • Completing 9, 10, 11, or 12 credits over two or three summer years.
  • Enrolling in a minimum of 4 credits in summer sessions.
  • Earning a minimum of 9 credits in Suffolk Law Summer classes over two summer years with at least 4 credits each year, or over three summer sessions with at least 3 credits each session.

Application of Summer Credits to Final Semester

• Any Evening Division Suffolk student attending one summer session must enroll in at least 5 credits (two courses) to reduce their final semester credit requirement to fewer than 7 credits and thus qualify for reduced tuition.
• Any Day Division Suffolk student attending only one summer session must enroll in at least 5 credits (two courses) to reduce their final semester credit requirements to fewer than 10 credits and thus qualify for reduced tuition.
• Day students may not use Summer session credits to eliminate their final semester.

Notes for Specific JD Programs

• Day students in the Accelerated JD Program are required to enroll in 12-13 credits during the second Summer session (SUMMER II).
• Evening students in the Accelerated JD Program are required to enroll in at least 10-11 credits during the second Summer session and 9-12 credits in the third Summer session.
• JD/LLM Tax students are required to enroll in 12 credits of LLM Tax courses.