Penn Law Summer Program | Ages 16-19

Pre-Law Program for High School & College Students

Penn Law Summer Program gives rising high school juniors and seniors as well as college freshmen and sophomores a chance to try law school at a world-class university.  Over four weeks students experience the Socratic Method, visit law firms and court rooms, craft persuasive arguments and develop leadership skills through collaborative teamwork.

The Penn Law program is a summer academic program for high school and undergraduate students. Students will gain insight into U.S. law and the legal profession while experiencing academic and residential life at the University of Pennsylvania. Students will discover what law school is like, learn what it means to be a lawyer and gain a better understanding of laws and their role in modern society.  

Class work will be supplemented with trips to area law firms, courts, and corporate legal departments to help students gain insight into how law is practiced in the real world. Guest lecturers will give students an opportunity to interact with legal practitioners from a wide array of practice areas. Plus, Law school administrators will provide instruction on how to navigate your way to a career in law.

Sponsored by The University of Pennsylvania Law School, Penn Law Summer Program is for a talented and select group.  Understanding the legal system is important.  Whether you plan a career in law, business, government or another field, the Penn Law Summer Program is a strong foundation for success.   

Law permeates all levels of modern society and this program provides a necessary legal grounding for future success.

Specialized Law Program

During the four-week summer academy, students will take courses at the University of Pennsylvania Law School. The program features classes which mirror those taken by first year law student. Students develop legal reasoning, and review case briefings as they unravel constitutional law, criminal law and contract law. 

Penn Law Summer Program students will:

• Attend lectures and presentations from outstanding Penn Law instructors, legal professionals and guest speakers. 

• Engage in Socratic dialogue designed to illuminate the American legal system.

• Navigate the law through hands-on workshops and group projects.

• Receive instruction on how to craft a persuasive argument.

• Develop and enhance leadership, critical thinking and analytical skills through collaborative teamwork.

• Visit court rooms and law firms.

• Speak with leading legal experts across an array of legal practice areas and disciplines.

• Gain critical insight into the basic principles that hold American society together.

View Sample Summer Schedule

This is your first step toward success in college, law school and a career in any of the broad professions intertwined with law!

Summer at Penn Law

As a member of the Ivy League, the University of Pennsylvania Law School is amongst the most prestigious law schools in the nation. Among the school's alumni are a US Supreme Court Justice, several state Supreme Court Justices as well as founders of law firms, university presidents and deans, business entrepreneurs and politicians.

You'll be a part of this stimulating learning environment living on campus in the state-of-the-art Penn Law facilities. From 110 year old Silverman Hall to the Biddle Library to the brand new Golkin Hall you'll experience the Penn Law atmosphere. 

Live in Penn’s famous Quad with students from across the country and around the world.  Experience the University City District and its dozens of restaurants, shops, recreational facilities and entertainment venues. After class, enjoy your choice of on and off-campus activities organized by our staff. 

Penn Law Summer Program Faculty

Matthew Parker, Program Director

Matt Parker is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.  In that capacity he is the director for the Law School's LLM, LLCM and SJD Programs. Matt is a graduate of Penn Law's JD Program, 2000.  After graduating from law school, he clerked in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for the Hon. Thomas N. O'Neill, after which he worked as an associate attorney at law firms in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia.  Matt returned to the Law School as Associate Director of Graduate and International Programs in 2005, and became Assistant Dean for Graduate Programs in 2008.  He is currently pursuing an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.

Matt is originally from upstate New York and graduated from Cornell University with a degree in International Relations in 1995 and has lived abroad for extended periods in Australia and the People's Republic of China.

Maryam Ahranjani, Academic Director & Senior Lecturer

Maryam Ahranjani is an adjunct professor of law and associate director of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project at American University, Washington College of Law. She oversees the national and international expansion of the Marshall-Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project and directs the program’s efforts in DC public high schools. Professor Ahranjani teaches an advanced constitutional law seminar entitled, “Education and the Constitution” to upper-level law students; and designed and teaches an externship seminar entitled, "Reflections on Meaningful Lawyering." Most recently, Professor Ahranjani worked for Kaplan, Inc., serving as a regional director and product manager. She formerly served as associate director of WCL's Program on Law and Government, where she ran the SJD and LLM programs. Co-author of the textbook Youth Justice in America (CQ Press, 2005), Professor Ahranjani has appeared on C-SPAN and has authored numerous articles and lesson plans about students’ rights and civic literacy. A founder of the National Youth Justice Alliance, she is also recipient of the 2008 Alumni of the Year Award from the Latino/a Law Students Association and a 2006 American University Performance Award. A magna cum laude graduate of Northwestern University, Professor Ahranjani obtained her JD degree from American University Washington College of Law, and is fluent in Spanish and Persian.

Guest Speakers

Matthew Biben

Mr. Biben serves as General Counsel, Chase Consumer Businesses, and Senior Legal Adviser to JPMorgan Chase. In this position, Mr. Biben is responsible for the legal and compliance activities for Chase's consumer businesses including:  Mortgage Banking, Consumer and Business Banking, Auto Finance and Student Lending, and Card businesses.

Before joining Chase while at BNY Mellon, Mr. Biben personally spearheaded all litigation and securities and bank regulatory investigations presenting franchise risk and negotiated favorable public and non-public resolutions with bank and securities regulators and federal prosecutors, including the Non-Prosecution Agreement with the US Attorney’s Offices for Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, resolving the Russian money laundering investigation and RW Leasing bank fraud investigations. In addition, Mr. Biben advises on corporate governance and serves as Chairman of the Sensitive Issue Oversight Committee (“SIOC”). SIOC, which is responsible for the oversight of suspicious activity, ethics complaints, as well as any sensitive issue that presents material financial, regulatory, or reputational risk to the Company.
 
Prior to joining the Bank, Mr. Biben served for six years in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as an Assistant United States Attorney in its Criminal Division where he received the Attorney General’s Director Award for superior performance. As an AUSA, Mr. Biben investigated and prosecuted cases involving: labor racketeering and union corruption in the construction industry, money laundering, bank and securities fraud and fictitious securities cases, mail and wire fraud, organized crime, weapons trafficking and violent crime including murder in aid of racketeering and supervised numerous eavesdropping investigations. Mr. Biben served as lead prosecutor for the tax evasion, racketeering and fraud prosecution of one of the nation’s most prolific immigration lawyers and 16 law firm employees.  Mr. Biben also served as lead prosecutor for 73-defendant RICO prosecution involving the Genovese crime family’s widespread racketeering activity. Finally, Mr. Biben participated in the multi-jurisdictional investigation of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack and drafted material witness and immunity affidavits, search warrants, and electronic communication seizure applications; analyzed foreign intelligence and coordinated with foreign law enforcement; and conducted debriefings and Grand Jury proceedings involving hostile witnesses. Prior to his tenure as federal prosecutor, Mr. Biben served as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney’s Office where he principally prosecuted white-collar fraud and narcotics violations. Mr. Biben has argued numerous appeals in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and was lead counsel in more than 25 federal and state trials.

Eleanor Barrett, Clerk for Judge Rendell

Eleanor Barrett L’05 was a law clerk to the Honorable Marjorie O. Rendell of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

In addition to clerking for Judge Rendell,  Barrett has worked as a litigation associate for Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Washington, DC and for Duane Morris LLP in Philadelphia. In those positions, she engaged in all aspects of federal- and state-court litigation on behalf of commercial clients, with a particular focus on writing trial-court and appeal briefs.

Before law school,  Barrett worked as a financial analyst in the investment banking division of Goldman Sachs. Ms. Barrett received her A.B., magna cum laude, from Princeton University in 2000 and her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 2005.  At Penn Law, Ms. Barrett was a Legal Writing Instructor and was named Best Oralist in the Edwin R. Keedy Cup Moot Court Competition. She is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania. 

Annie Fisher

Annie Fisher has been an attorney with the Defender Association of Philadelphia since 2004. As an Assistant Defender, she currently teaches the Criminal Defense Clinic at the University of Pennsylvania Law School where she educates and supervises third year law students as they represent indigent criminal defendants in Municipal Court in Philadelphia. 

Prior to teaching the Criminal Defense Clinic, Annie was in a lawyer in the Defender Association’s Major Trial Unit where she represented indigent clients charged with major felonies including attempted murder, rape, armed robbery, burglary, and drug and gun offenses. She has tried hundreds of bench trials and over 25 jury trials. She has also served as the Rotating Supervisor for both the Municipal Court and Felony Waiver Units at the Defender Association where she supervised and trained new attorneys.

David P. Frazier, Ph.D., is a partner at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP.  Dr. Frazier focuses his practice primarily on patent litigation, strategic pre-litigation client counseling, due diligence analysis, and providing opinions in the fields of biotechnology, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals. 

Dr. Frazier has broad experience in a wide variety of litigation and pre-litigation matters, including preparing for, litigating, and trying Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) litigation and traditional patent litigation in the areas of biopharmaceuticals and bioinstrumentation. He also has experience in due diligence evaluations in connection with patent acquisition and licensing transactions. 

Dr. Frazier received his Ph.D. in microbiology and molecular genetics from Harvard University and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.  

Waldron Kraemer

Waldron Kraemer was a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, Kraemer served as Law Secretary to New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Nathan L. Jacobs. He was a member of the Multi-state Bar Examination Torts Committee, he has chaired the New Jersey Board of Bar Examiners, and has been President of the Essex County Bar Association. He has served as Chairman of the New Jersey Supreme Court's Ethics Finance Committee, as a member of the Supreme Court's disciplinary Review Board, and has chaired several New Jersey State Bar Association committees.

Bethany McLean, Co-Author of The Smartest Guy in the Room

Bethany McLean received her BA in English and mathematics at Williams College in 1992. After college and prior to joining Fortune, she worked as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs.

Before joining Vanity Fair as a contributing editor in 2008, Bethany McLean was an editor-at-large for Fortune magazine, where in 2001 she wrote an article for the magazine that raised questions about the immense profitability of Enron, then a darling of the stock market. In 2003 she co-wrote a book about the scandal that led to the energy company’s collapse, The Smartest Guys in the Room (Portfolio). The book exposed the corrupt business practices of Enron officials.   It was developed into a documentary in 2005.

Kedric L. Payne

Kedric L. Payne is the Deputy Chief Counsel of the Office of Congressional Ethics where he investigates ethics violations of Members and staff of Congress. Before joining the OCE, Mr. Payne practiced political law with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. He counseled clients on matters related to federal, state, and local laws governing campaign finance, lobbying, and ethics. He also represented clients in matters before various government agencies. Prior to practicing political law, Mr. Payne was a litigator with Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.

Mr. Payne clerked for the Honorable Shira A. Scheindlin in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York.  He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

Ed Greenlee

Ed Greenlee is the Associate Director for Public Services at Biddle Law Library.  He teaches legal research, engages in the adminstiation of the law library, and carries out research for Penn Law's faculty.  Some of his interests include copyright, the application of new technology to legal research and legal education, religion and the law, comptemplative practices in legal setting, and art law. 

Jennifer Arbittier Williams

Jennifer Arbittier Williams (Penn  ’92, Penn Law  ’95) has been an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for 11 years.   Ms. Williams has prosecuted many different types of criminal cases during her tenure as an AUSA, and in 2011 she was awarded the Federal Trade Commission National Criminal Liaison Award for her prosecution of a $75 million telemarketing fraud case involving more than 400,000 victims.    Currently, Ms. Williams focuses her practice on national security and terrorism prosecutions, and she serves as the Anti-Terrorism Advisory Council Deputy Coordinator for the district.   Ms. Williams is also very involved in programs that focus on alternatives to prosecution.  She is the U.S. Attorney’s Office representative on its Reentry Court program, and she founded and continues to run the U.S. Attorney’s office Youth Court program in Chester, PA.   Prior to serving as an AUSA, Ms. Williams worked as a litigation associate for  the law firm of Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason and Silberberg (1999 – 2002), and at the law firm of Dechert, Price & Rhoads (1997 – 1999).  From 1996 – 1997, Ms. Williams clerked for the Honorable Anthony J. Scirica of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  And from 1995 – 1996, Ms. Williams clerked for the Honorable Anita B. Brody of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.  

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I receive correspondence from Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs?

Julian Krinsky Camps & Programs (JKCP) is a residential program service provider.  JKCP provides administrative support, student life programming, and residential services for several University of Pennsylvania summer programs, including Penn Law Summer Program. Penn Law is wholly responsible for admissions and provides all academic content for the program, including faculty members and guest speakers. 

Is there a specific form for the teacher recommendation? 

Applicants will receive a link to an online form. If your teacher is having difficulty with the online letter of recommendation form, please email law@jkcp.com for a PDF copy. We want to hear from the teacher about their knowledge of the applicant’s abilities and why they believe the applicant would be a good candidate for the program. If the recommendation is sent through email or the online form, teachers should use their school email address. If sent by mail, the recommendation should be sent on official school letterhead to:

Penn Law Summer Program

610 S. Henderson Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

May I send a copy of my score reports?

Yes, you may send a copy of your College Board score reports for any standardized tests you have taken, but it is not required.

Does my transcript have to be official?

No, but it is preferred that you have your school send a transcript and school profile directly to:

Penn Law Summer Program

610 S. Henderson Road

King of Prussia, PA 19406

I am experiencing technical difficulties when I try to apply. Who should I contact? 

Please contact a JKCP program advisor at 610-265-9401 or email law@jkcp.com.

Can I save my application information and come back to finish it? 

Once you have paid the $100 application fee, you will have a username and password and can then save and return to complete your application.

Can I print out a hard copy of the application?

No, a hard copy of the application is not available.

How do I know that you have received my application?

You will receive an email from JKCP once all of your application materials have been received (including your transcript, recommendations, and score reports.) If you do not hear from JKCP within several weeks after you have submitted your application, please contact them at 610-265-9401. 

When is my application considered complete? 

In order to be considered for admission, your application must be complete. After submitting your online application, you have an additional week for the entire application, including transcript, score reports, and recommendations, to be received. Please note that this week should be treated simply as a safeguard to ensure that all materials arrive. 

When will I be notified of my application status?

Admissions are rolling. All applicants will receive an email notification with admission status.

Do I get any free time during the program?

Yes. While the week is filled with classes and students take trips on Saturdays, nightly activities are offered but optional. Students also have free time between and after classes, and Sundays are generally free. 

If I have a friend who will also be participating in the program, can I request him/her as a roommate?

Our goal is to have students develop new relationships and become part of a broader learning community, and we strongly encourage students to room with the student(s) we pair them with.   

2013 Dates & Tuition

Residential Dates: June 30 to July 27

Residential Tuition: $6,895

Includes tuition, housing, on-campus meals, course materials and weekend trips. Application fee is $100.

How to Apply

Apply Now - Application is Closed for 2013

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