Program Overview

Summer Immersion Program

The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program is a hands-on learning experience offered on-campus and online. High school students dive deep into a field of study with access to world-class faculty, researchers, and industry professionals.

Law Institute

The Wake Forest Summer Immersion Law Institute is an unforgettable experience for high school students. Find out what it's really like to be a lawyer. From arguing for your client in a criminal litigation case to representing a company in a contract negotiation, students will be exposed to a wide range of law practice areas and career paths. Learn about confidentiality, conflicts, candor, and other ethical duties that lawyers must observe.

At a Glance

• 2026 Dates: Week of June 14-19 and week of July 19-24
• Program Length: Sunday – Friday, overnight
• Tuition: $3,500
• Location: Winston-Salem, NC – Wake Forest University Reynolda Campus
• Who Can Apply?: Current 9th – 12th grade students

Topics Covered

• Civil and Criminal Litigation
• Family Law
• Government Law and Lobbying
• Judicial System
• Transactional Law

Hands-On Experiences

• Participate in a 1L law class
• Read and discuss case studies in teams
• Negotiations exercise
• Mentoring from law students and young lawyers
• Engage with industry-leading guest speakers

A Day in the Life

Typical Daily Schedule

• 8:00 am – Morning Meeting and Breakfast
• 9:00 am – Welcome from Academic Leader- Professor Deja Kemp
• 9:30 am – Session 1 Topic: Undergraduate Pre-Law Overview
• 10:00 am – Session 1: Q and A with Law Student Panel
• 11:00 am – Session 2
• 12:00 pm – Lunch
• 1:00 pm – Topic: How to Read a Legal Case and How to Prepare for Law School
• 2:00 pm – Debrief and Reflections
• 3:00 pm – Topic: Legal Ethics
• 4:00 pm – Ethics Activity: Disclosure Exercise
• 5:00 pm – Dinner
• 6:30 pm – Evening Activities
• 7:30 pm – Free Time
• 9:00 pm – Prepare for Bed
• 10:30 pm – Lights Out

Meet the Academic Leader

Deja Kemp

Academic Leader, Law Institute

Deja Kemp is Research Faculty at the University of Pennsylvania and the Director of Legal Policy for Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy. In this role, she helps local and state governments share data to improve lives. As a product of North Carolina public schools and a first-generation college student, Deja has devoted most of her adult life to improving the lives of kids. Deja began her career as a middle school science teacher with Teach for America in Charlotte. After law school, she served as Senior Associate General Counsel for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, advising school and district leaders on pressing legal issues that impact students and learning. She formerly worked at Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP assisting local governments and nonprofits in complex regulatory compliance matters and civil litigation. She earned her B.A. in Women & Gender Studies from Dartmouth College and her J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, and holds law licenses in North Carolina and South Carolina. She lives in Charlotte, N.C. with her husband, Anthony, and her twin toddlers, Nia and Zuri.