Applications Open! Enroll for Summer 2027 at 2026 Tuition Pricing Until Sept 30
Argue from evidence in this 2-week law program for high school students on the University of Michigan campus.
Course Description
What makes a rule fair, and how should courts apply it when rights, safety, and community interests collide? Students enter the American legal system through the rule of law, constitutional principles, the Bill of Rights, and the relationship between common and constitutional law. Landmark decisions become daily case studies for identifying facts, evaluating reasoning, and tracing how precedent shapes public life.
The course then turns to contemporary criminal-justice questions that affect young people and communities. Students examine juvenile justice, school discipline, restorative justice, cyberbullying, policing, victimology, reentry, and root causes of crime. Discussion, research, and case presentations build legal vocabulary while helping students separate evidence from assumption and compare competing interpretations.
For the capstone, each student selects a landmark criminal decision and investigates its background, verdict, reasoning, and social impact. A multimedia presentation asks students to explain the case clearly and predict how its precedent could influence future disputes. The result is practical experience with research, argument, and public speaking.
This two-week Summer Discovery course takes place on the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The course is available to residential and commuter students. Beyond class, students connect focused academic work with campus life, growing independence, and clearer direction about what students may want to study or pursue next.
What Will You Do?
• Examine the rule of law, constitutional principles, and the Bill of Rights
• Brief landmark cases by identifying facts, issues, rulings, and reasoning
• Debate contemporary questions involving schools, technology, policing, and juvenile justice
• Compare punitive, rehabilitative, and restorative approaches to crime and conflict
• Research the history, social impact, and future influence of a legal precedent
• Present a multimedia criminal-justice capstone and respond to audience questions
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Analyze landmark decisions by separating facts, legal questions, reasoning, and precedent
• Evaluate criminal-justice issues using evidence and competing legal or community perspectives
• Research and present a reasoned argument about a case’s social and future impact
Students will leave with a multimedia case presentation, stronger legal-reasoning and communication skills, and clearer insight into further study or careers connected to law and justice.
Why Legal Reasoning Skills Matter
Legal reasoning begins with a disciplined question: what does the evidence support? Learning to distinguish facts from interpretation helps students evaluate claims, recognize assumptions, and explain why one argument is stronger than another. Reading judicial decisions also shows how rules, rights, and precedent interact.
These abilities matter well beyond a courtroom. Students use them when writing research papers, discussing public issues, resolving conflicts, or making decisions that affect a group. Careful listening and persuasive communication make disagreement more productive, while familiarity with constitutional principles gives students a stronger framework for examining justice and civic responsibility.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for high school students who have completed 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade and are interested in law, criminal justice, government, history, policy, or civic debate. It fits students who want to understand how court decisions shape society.
Participants should be ready to read legal material, discuss contested issues respectfully, compare different perspectives, research a landmark case, and deliver a multimedia presentation. Evidence-based reasoning and intellectual openness will support success. Success depends on careful preparation, steady participation, and respect for classmates’ perspectives throughout the course.
Recommended by More Than 9 out of 10 Students
Based on students surveyed in Summer Discovery’s 2026 program at the University of Michigan.
Why University of Michigan?
Founded in 1817, the University of Michigan is one of the world’s leading public research universities. Its Ann Arbor campus brings together rigorous academics, a strong culture of innovation, and a vibrant college-town setting. Students learn in an environment shaped by nationally recognized programs, landmark facilities, and a community that values inquiry, leadership, and impact.
Living and learning on campus gives Summer Discovery students an authentic introduction to university life. They experience residence halls, campus resources, and the energy of Ann Arbor while building independence and forming friendships with peers from around the world. The setting makes academic exploration feel connected to the broader possibilities of college.
Legal Reasoning in Action
Law appears wherever rules define rights, duties, and consequences. Attorneys research precedent and advocate for clients, while judges weigh competing arguments and explain decisions. Policymakers, law-enforcement professionals, victim advocates, educators, journalists, and community organizations also rely on evidence and legal frameworks when responding to public problems.
Students drawn to these questions may explore majors in political science, criminal justice, history, public policy, sociology, or philosophy before pursuing law or another field. The course also offers a useful lens for careers in advocacy, government, compliance, mediation, public service, and communications.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive