1L Trial Run Program
Experience law school before deciding whether to pursue a J.D.
Southwestern’s 1L Trial Run Program gives you the opportunity to study Criminal Law with a nationally recognized scholar and three-time recipient of Southwestern’s Excellence in Teaching Award, tackle the same kinds of cases and legal analysis as first-year J.D. students, and put your developing skills to the test through graded assignments and examinations. During this 12-week online program, you’ll also connect with practicing attorneys, alumni, faculty, and current law students, gaining valuable insight into both legal education and the legal profession. Plus, you'll receive guidance on preparing a strong law school admissions application and learn the steps involved in pursuing a J.D.
Whether you’re exploring the possibility of law school, considering a career change, or looking to strengthen your analytical and professional skills, 1L Trial Run offers a meaningful educational experience—and something tangible to show for it. Students who successfully complete the program will earn Southwestern’s Applied Legal Reasoning: Criminal Law certificate and digital badge, plus other benefits described later on this site.
The 1L Trial Run Program is a non-degree program. Completion does not confer J.D. academic credit or guarantee admission to any J.D. program. The program is not eligible for federal financial aid.
At-a-glance
- Next Cohort
- Spring 2027
- Tuition
- $2,195
- Does not include the $100-$150 textbook cost
- Program Length
- 12 weeks
- Two weeks of orientation and legal methods, followed by ten weeks of Criminal Law (all 12 weeks are required).
- Format
- Online
- Delivered through the same platform used by Southwestern’s ABA-approved Online J.D. Program. The first two weeks include synchronous elements; the last 10 weeks are primarily asynchronous. See the course schedule on the application page.
- Admission
- No LSAT required
- An LSAT score is not required to apply to the 1L Trial Run Program; however, if you have an LSAT score, you must submit it as part of your application.
- Certificate
- Applied Legal Reasoning: Criminal Law
- Earned through successful completion (at least 70% of the points), accompanied by digital badge.
- At Southwestern
- Tuition credit
- If you successfully complete the course and matriculate within two years, the amount you pay for the 1L Trial Run Program can be credited toward your first Southwestern J.D. term tuition.
Criminal Law
Learn to think like a lawyer.
The ten-week Criminal Law course is taught by Professor Catherine L. Carpenter, a nationally recognized criminal-law scholar with more than four decades of teaching experience and a three-time recipient of Southwestern’s Excellence in Teaching Award.
You will work with judicial opinions and statutes, identify and synthesize the rules they establish, weigh competing arguments, and apply those rules to unfamiliar facts. Weekly learning activities include watching pre-recorded lecture videos, reading and analyzing cases and secondary materials, completing hypotheticals and multiple-choice questions, and engaging in discussion posts. The weekly learning activities, a proctored midterm, and a proctored final will assess your understanding and developing abilities.
Before the Criminal Law course begins, you will complete a mandatory two-week orientation designed to build foundational law school skills, including reading and analyzing cases, organizing course materials, completing assignments, and preparing for examinations.
Program Benefits
Every student who earns enough points to earn a certificate earns additional benefits. The additional benefits depend on your final score.
| Tier | Grade required | What you earn |
|---|---|---|
| Completion |
70% or higher of total points |
|
| Distinction |
85% or higher of total points |
Everything in the Completion tier, plus:
|
Students who do not earn enough points to achieve a completion score do not earn a certificate, badge, or the additional 1L Trial Run Program benefits.
THE CERTIFICATE EVIDENCES YOUR ABILITY TO
- Interpret legal authority
- Synthesize rules from cases and statutes
- Weigh competing arguments
- Apply law to complex facts
- Write a reasoned, defensible conclusion
The certificate does not confer academic credit toward a J.D., nor an associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or other non-J.D. degree programs. For additional information, see the Program Disclosures page.
The 1L Trial Run Program is open to anyone considering law school.
Who may find the 1L Trial Run Program useful
Career changers
If you are considering a career change, the 1L Trial Run Program lets you take a law-school course before deciding whether to apply to a J.D. program.
Working professionals
If you plan to work while attending law school, the 1L Trial Run Program lets you complete case readings, assignments, and examinations while maintaining your current work schedule.
First-generation prospective students
If no one in your family has attended law school, the 1L Trial Run Program gives you direct experience with the reading, analysis, and examinations required in a law-school course.
Paralegal and compliance professionals
If your work already involves lawyers, regulations, or legal processes, the 1L Trial Run Program gives you experience with doctrinal study: reading cases, synthesizing legal rules, and applying them to new facts.
Caregivers
If you expect to attend law school while caring for children or other family members, the 1L Trial Run Program lets you assess the course workload alongside those responsibilities.
Prospective online students
If you are considering an online J.D., the 1L Trial Run Program lets you take a course through the same platform used by Southwestern’s Online J.D. Program. Explore the Online J.D. Program →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take the LSAT to apply to the 1L Trial Run Program?
No. An LSAT score is not required to apply to the 1L Trial Run Program. However, if you have already taken the LSAT, you must submit it as part of your application. Note: An LSAT score will be required if you later apply to Southwestern’s J.D. programs.
Are there residency or location restrictions?
Yes. Because online education is regulated by jurisdiction, the 1L Trial Run Program is available only where Southwestern is authorized to offer the program.
You must be physically located in an authorized jurisdiction when you apply, when you enroll, and throughout the course. The current list of authorized jurisdictions is provided on the application page.
If I am also interested in starting a J.D. program soon, when should I aim to start the J.D.?
For Southwestern’s 3- and 4-year J.D. programs, both Fall 2027 and Fall 2028 are possible, but Fall 2028 is more realistic for most students. If you enter the 1L Trial Run Program without an LSAT score in hand, Fall 2028 gives you time to complete the LSAT, assemble recommendations, and finish the LSAC CAS process after the 1L Trial Run Program ends. If you already have an LSAT score, Fall 2027 admission is possible with a fast application turnaround. For our accelerated 2-year program, starting your J.D. in June 2028 is more realistic.
Does the 1L Trial Run Program give me J.D. credit?
No. The 1L Trial Run Program does not award academic credit toward the J.D. It also does not provide transfer credit for any other degree program (e.g., B.A., B.S.).
If you later matriculate at Southwestern, you will complete the full first-year curriculum, including Criminal Law. The 1L Trial Run Program certificate, tuition credit, and admissions benefits are separate from J.D. academic credit.
Have additional questions? We have answers.