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Follow a criminal case from arrest to verdict in this 3-week trial law academy for high school students at UCLA School of Law.
Course Description
Take a seat on a jury and weigh a criminal case. Reaching a verdict means deciding what the evidence supports, not just which argument sounds convincing.
In this course you will follow a case from arrest to verdict and learn how jury trials work. Examine how evidence is used, why lawyers object, and the burden of proof: what the side bringing the case must prove. Serving as a juror lets you put those ideas to work as you deliberate a case.
Practice opening statements, questioning witnesses, and closing arguments before taking part in a full mock trial. A courthouse visit brings the process into focus as you watch an actual jury trial. Hear from practicing civil and criminal trial attorneys about their work, then bring what you’ve learned into the final performance, with family and friends invited to watch. Reasoning from evidence and explaining a position offer a practical introduction to legal study.
This three-week full-day academy for high school students takes place at UCLA in Los Angeles, California. The program is developed by UCLA School of Law and offered in partnership with Summer Discovery. The academic experience is taught by UCLA and Loyola faculty.
What You Will Do
• Trace a criminal case from arrest to verdict
• Weigh evidence and deliberate a case as a juror
• Practice opening statements, witness questions, and closing arguments
• Watch an actual jury trial at a courthouse
• Hear from practicing civil and criminal trial attorneys
• Take part in a full mock trial
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain how evidence, objections, and the burden of proof shape a trial
• Distinguish the purposes of opening statements, witness examination, and closing arguments
• Support a position with evidence while considering the jury’s role
You’ll leave with a certificate of completion.
Is This Academy Right for You?
For students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade.
If you enjoy debate, care about justice, or want to understand what happens inside a courtroom, this academy gives you a place to start. You’ll experience a case from both the lawyer’s and the juror’s perspective. No prior legal experience is required.
Your Summer at UCLA
UCLA places your summer in Los Angeles, where entertainment, business, technology, and culture meet. That setting gives an interest in law a wider context: legal questions shape the industries and communities around the university.
The UCLA Law program brings students interested in debate, justice, and communication into the same academic setting. Alongside the course, the broader Los Angeles summer experience offers another way to discover what holds your attention. You can explore an interest in law without having your future mapped out.
Summer Discovery Certificate of Completion
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive