PENN STATE DICKINSON LAW HOSTS 2025 CLEO PRE-LAW INSTITUTE
June 2025 – The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc.’s (CLEO) 2025 Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI) is currently underway at Penn State Dickinson Law.
PLSI, offered to 2025 graduating college seniors or any post-graduates who plan to attend law school in the fall of 2025 or the following year, kicked off with a three-week virtual component on May 27, with in-person classes at the Penn State Dickinson Law University Park location beginning on June 16 and running through July 3.
“CLEO Inc.’s PLSI is a transformative six-week program that gives incoming 1L students an immersive, real-world preview of law school life—from the rigor of the curriculum to the rhythm of campus living,” said Valerie James, senior assistant dean for academic and student services and this year’s PLSI director. “It’s a unique chance for students to build confidence, sharpen legal skills, and enter law school ready to thrive.”
Thirty-two students will participate in Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, and Legal Writing courses taught by Penn State Dickinson Law faculty, getting to experience the Socratic Method first-hand; learn how to build and utilize functional study groups; write an essay exam and get a debrief; and begin to build their network of fellow law students. The experience also includes an excursion to Harrisburg and Carlisle, a networking baseball game, and a graduation and celebration breakfast.
Penn State Dickinson Law hosted PLSI previously from 2020-2022, in a virtual capacity due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will host again in 2026.
“CLEO PLSI gave me the tools to navigate the academic rigor of law school and the confidence needed to succeed as a law student,” said Uyen Nguyen, a 2025 Penn State Dickinson Law graduate and 2022 PLSI participant. “Because of this program, I entered law school with the mindset that I am just as capable as any of my peers and that my success in the legal profession is within my reach.”
CLEO is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization founded in 1968. Through CLEO’s educational programs, CLEO works to expand access and opportunities for all aspiring students to attend and succeed in law school. CLEO serves students of all identities and backgrounds, with more than 32,000 students having participated in CLEO’s programs and joined the legal profession. Penn State Dickinson Law is a CLEO Consortium on Legal Education partner, supporting CLEO’s commitment to expanding access to legal education and supporting aspiring law students.