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Hi guys, long time reader, first time poster. I'm currently attending Ohio State as an undergrad, with hopes of going to Notre Dame or USC Law. I'm really interested in the idea of studying abroad, but I'm not sure how beneficial this is in terms of admissions. At OSU, they offer a five week "pre-law" program at Oxford. I'm not sure if this would be looked at as prestigious, or more of a situation where it looks like I just threw some money around for a vacation. So, would doing this program help my chances of admission, or would I be better off interning or working over the summer? Here's some more info:
http://moritzlaw.osu.edu/programs/oxford/prelaw/

Thanks.

At most it would be a very very soft factor. Most, if not all, prep programs are a waste of money. LS admissions are all about LSAT/GPA.

Do you think it could increase chances at all for someone wanting to one day work abroad? I'm studying in London this summer already, and would like to work there one day. One of the main reasons I'm interested in Notre Dame is the 2nd year in London.

Buckeye33 wrote:Do you think it could increase chances at all for someone wanting to one day work abroad? I'm studying in London this summer already, and would like to work there one day. One of the main reasons I'm interested in Notre Dame is the 2nd year in London.

It could certainly help with networking and making contacts. I think it could be useful for someone who wants to eventually practice there. Might as well start planting a seed and making connections now.

Buckeye33 wrote:Do you think it could increase chances at all for someone wanting to one day work abroad? I'm studying in London this summer already, and would like to work there one day. One of the main reasons I'm interested in Notre Dame is the 2nd year in London.

not really gonna help if it's London.. it's a nice vacation- do it if you think you'll enjoy it, don't do it because of law school

The program will definitely help you...do well in law school. These programs are designed to give you a law school-like experience, not to make your resume look better. Taking a pre-law program will give you a chance to read cases, experience the socratic method, and take a law school exam without the pressures attached. Unless you do a program like Cornell's that helps you find a legal job during the same summer, no value is added to your application (in fact, even a summer paralegal job is not going to boost your application much).

pelmen74 wrote:The program will definitely help you...do well in law school. These programs are designed to give you a law school-like experience, not to make your resume look better. Taking a pre-law program will give you a chance to read cases, experience the socratic method, and take a law school exam without the pressures attached. Unless you do a program like Cornell's that helps you find a legal job during the same summer, no value is added to your application (in fact, even a summer paralegal job is not going to boost your application much).

the help is minimal and not worth the cost... as i said before, do it if you want to visit and enjoy london.

capitalacq wrote:

pelmen74 wrote:The program will definitely help you...do well in law school. These programs are designed to give you a law school-like experience, not to make your resume look better. Taking a pre-law program will give you a chance to read cases, experience the socratic method, and take a law school exam without the pressures attached. Unless you do a program like Cornell's that helps you find a legal job during the same summer, no value is added to your application (in fact, even a summer paralegal job is not going to boost your application much).

the help is minimal and not worth the cost... as i said before, do it if you want to visit and enjoy london.

This.

It's not going to help you in any significant way, both for law school admissions or for one day working abroad. The people gunning for "international law" will likely have much more significant overseas experience (Peace Corps, interned for NGOs, interned for ICC, etc) than a summer abroad.

Plus, you don't need that much help for Notre Dame or USC.

It wont help at all IMO

Try to get a summer job at a law firm if you haven't already. It will help you decide if it's something you want to do.

TTH wrote:

capitalacq wrote:

pelmen74 wrote:The program will definitely help you...do well in law school. These programs are designed to give you a law school-like experience, not to make your resume look better. Taking a pre-law program will give you a chance to read cases, experience the socratic method, and take a law school exam without the pressures attached. Unless you do a program like Cornell's that helps you find a legal job during the same summer, no value is added to your application (in fact, even a summer paralegal job is not going to boost your application much).

the help is minimal and not worth the cost... as i said before, do it if you want to visit and enjoy london.

This.

It's not going to help you in any significant way, both for law school admissions or for one day working abroad. The people gunning for "international law" will likely have much more significant overseas experience (Peace Corps, interned for NGOs, interned for ICC, etc) than a summer abroad.

Plus, you don't need that much help for Notre Dame or USC.

The help is probably not worth the cost in itself, but it is something you should consider in a cost-benefit analysis. I participated in a program like this done in NYC. It was a great experience to be in a new city for a month, and obviously very fun. Furthermore, it allowed me to take a law school exam written by a Fordham professor which IMHO, was really useful for preparing me for law school, allowing me to know what to expect from the LS exam and modifying my studies for next year accordingly.

I did a summer program there during undergrad. I can't speak to whether or not it will help you or whether it is worth the cost, but I view those few weeks as some of the best of my life. I loved it. Loved being out there. Loved the people. Cannot wait to go back. Do it. Oxford is fantastic.

I dont think it will help, its nothing that extrodinary. Def focus your attention on LSAT

Dude, do it. Studying at Oxford was the best thing I ever did-just to be in the environment.

Yes, the program won't really hurt or help you in admissions buuuuut really, no other internship will either.

This is one of those, who even cares about law school admissions, go to friggin Oxford for a few weeks!!!

Lol the website looks like a travel agency shtick. Definitely more fun than prestige, I'm thinking.

If you want to work in the U.K, then you might be better off doing a U.K law degree. In England, law is an undergrad degree. But since you already have a B.A, (or soon will), you can do either the one year "conversion course" or a "senior status" B.A in law at Oxford which takes two years. Either one will qualify you to become a lawyer ("barrister" or "solicitor"). If you felt like moving back to the U.S after, you could just do a one year LLM at a U.S law school. Think about it. Also, tuition is way less over there, even for international students.