When will it start?

The entire institute will be held: Tuesday, May 30th – Friday, July 7th , 2023
CLIC Retreat: Saturday, July 8th – Sunday, July 9th, 2023

Where will it be held?

This year the PSLI will be held in-person and online—a hybrid experience. For the past three-years, the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute has been held virtually — online. However, we are excited to return to an semi in-person format, which will be hosted by our Partner Law School – Mitchell Hamline School of Law, in St. Paul Minnesota.

In the years before the pandemic, summer institutes were held in-person at various law schools around the country including The Southern University Law Center, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Drake University Law School, and The University of Mississippi School of Law.

How long will it last?

The entire 2023 summer institute will be six weeks long. In an effort to protect the health and safety of our students and as noted above, the Pre-Law Summer Institute will be a hybrid class with a mix of in-person and online students.

Who is eligible to participate?

CLEO recruits individuals who have a strong desire to join the legal profession. Applicants must have obtained a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university prior to the start of the summer institute. Applicants also must be eligible to attend an ABA-approved law school at the completion of the program.

What is CLIC?

CLEO Legally Inspired Cohort (CLIC) is a unique opportunity to be part of a group of fellow PLSI students that will become an invaluable resource and support system for your success in law school.  Learn more about CLIC here.

What about my GPA and LSAT score?

Many students with marginal LSAT scores and GPAs would not be admitted to law school without the assistance of CLEO. While CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute participants must meet pre-determined academic requirements, CLEO recognizes and considers the numerous challenges that applicants have overcome in pursuit of their goal to attend law school.

Although CLEO may be liberal with respect to academic eligibility, it is unlikely that a student with marginal LSAT scores and GPA will be selected without a recommendation from a CLEO Partner School or Supporting/Sustaining Institution (PSSI).

How many students are selected and how much does it cost?

Mitchell Hamline School of Law will host 40 in-person students and up to 20 online-students. The cost is $2,500 per in-person student and $1,500 per online-student.

The CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute will consist of both students already accepted into law school and students who may need placement assistance. In fact, on average 70% of the participants have already been admitted or conditionally admitted to law school prior to the start of the program.

When will applicants be selected?

CLEO has a rolling admission policy. The regular applicant pool will be selected by May 8, 2023.

How do law schools recommend applicants for the CLEO program?

Although there is a rolling admission policy, CLEO will send your name to law schools that appear on your application. Any of those law schools may choose to recommend you to attend the PLSI.  Therefore it is very important that you correctly identify the law schools to which you will actually apply.

When is the deadline for applications?

All applications must be submitted by May 8, 2023.

How do I get started?

Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university earned prior to the start of the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute

• • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university earned prior to the start of the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute
  • Obtain LSAT scores and CAS subscription from www.lsac.org. In order for CLEO to receive your Law School Admission Council (LSAC) report, please apply to LSAC.  On the LSAC application, you will go to the school list which is in alphabetical order.  On the list you will see a line titled “non-member schools.”  Under non-member schools select #5096 – “Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc.”
  • Be prepared to upload a typed, double-spaced personal statement
  • Apply online by May 1, 2023, for the Pre-Law Summer Institute
  • Pay a nonrefundable $30 application fee as part of the online application; only credit/debit cards are accepted. No fee waivers will be granted.
  • Apply to at least one CLEO Consortium Partner School or Supporting/Sustaining Institution

Note: Any changes in application information after its initial submission should be addressed in writing to the organization’s Director of Prelaw Program Operations or sent by e-mail to bhayes@cleoinc.org.

COVID Policy Notice: CLEO’s Pre-Law Summer Institute and its participants will adhere to the practices of Mitchell Hamline School of Law regarding Covid 19.  All students are required to provide documentation that they are up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. Up-to-date status includes one booster for those who are eligible. You can update your vaccine status in your student record.  All students must be up to date on their COVID vaccines or have an approved accommodation on file to attend classes or programming on campus this fall semester. Please take immediate action to update your student record as required.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and any other applicable state or local law, Mitchell Hamline School of Law will provide reasonable accommodations for vaccinations to qualified students with documented disabilities, other medical reasons that may not qualify as a disability under federal, state, or local law, or with sincerely held religious beliefs, observances, or practices that conflict with the COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, unless providing such accommodations creates an undue hardship for the law school. All requests will be reviewed by the Office of the Dean of Students.  Here is the link to the vaccination accommodation request form. It is also posted on the Dean of Students webpage. Forms and documentation will be reviewed as quickly as possible upon receipt. 

When:

PLSI Course: May 29 – July 7, 2023
CLIC Retreat: July 8-9, 2023

Deadline:

May 8, 2023

Cost: 

IN PERSON: $2,500 (includes instructional materials and CLIC Retreat)
ONLINE: $1,500 (includes instructional materials and CLIC Retreat)