1L Trial Run — Frequently Asked Questions
About the Program
What is the 1L Trial Run Program?
It is a 12-week, online non-degree program at Southwestern Law School that lets you take a real first-year law course before applying to law school. You take one course (Criminal Law for the founding cohort), taught by a Southwestern professor, on the same platform used by our Online J.D. Program. At the end, you will have an evidence-based answer to whether law school is right for you at this point in your life.
Is this a law school degree program?
No. The 1L Trial Run Program is a non-degree program. Completion does not confer a Juris Doctor or any other degree, does not qualify you to sit for any bar examination, and does not authorize you to practice law.
If I complete the course, am I admitted to Southwestern's J.D. program?
No. It is not a conditional admission program. Completing the 1L Trial Run Program does not admit you to any J.D. program. You still need to apply through Southwestern's regular J.D. admissions process and meet all admissions requirements in effect at the time of your application. Completion does earn you specific benefits (fee waiver, tuition credit, and, for Distinction, accelerated review). Explore Southwestern’s J.D. Program →
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 the three-credit Criminal Law course. The 1L Trial Run Program certificate, tuition credit, and admissions benefits are separate from J.D. academic credit.
Who is the program for?
People seriously considering law school who want more than a brochure to decide. Career-changers, working professionals, first-generation prospective law students, paralegals, caregivers, place-bound individuals, and recent college graduates evaluating law as a next step are the primary audiences.
Cost, Refunds, and Financial Aid
How much does the program cost?
$2,195 all-in. This amount includes tuition, fees, and access to the course platform. The casebook is not included and costs approximately $100-$150 new (less if used or if rented).
Are payment plans available?
No.
Is the 1L Trial Run Program eligible for federal financial aid?
No. As a non-degree program, the 1L Trial Run Program is not eligible for federal financial aid, including federal student loans, Pell Grants, and work-study.
Are scholarships available?
The program has limited scholarships available. Those who would like to submit a brief statement regarding why they would like to receive a scholarship may submit it to TrialRun@swlaw.edu.
What is the refund policy?
For more information, see the 1L Trial Run Program Cancellation and Tuition Refund Policy.
What happens if Southwestern cancels the 1L Trial Run Program?
If Southwestern cancels the 1L Trial Run Program before it begins or during the term for any reason other than a student's own violation of the Enrollment Agreement, Southwestern will refund all tuition and fees paid in full. If the cancellation occurs after the course has begun, Southwestern may offer alternative arrangements (e.g., a make-up cohort or tuition credit toward a future offering) at its discretion.
The Course
What course will I take?
The founding cohort takes Criminal Law, a foundational first-year subject. The course is taught by Professor Emerita Catherine L. Carpenter, a long-tenured Southwestern faculty member with extensive online-teaching experience.
How is the course delivered?
The first two weeks are primarily synchronous in the evening. The last ten weeks are primarily asynchronous on the same platform used by Southwestern's Online J.D. Program. You access weekly modules on your own schedule, participate in discussion forums, and complete assignments by set weekly deadlines. The program also offers some optional live sessions with optional attendance and weekly live office hours.
How much time will the course take?
Time to complete weekly assignments will vary by the individual, including reading speed, focus, and other factors. However, we have designed the course to take most students approximately nine hours per week to complete. Weekly work includes readings, recorded lectures, and written assignments. This weekly workload is comparable to a three-credit J.D. course. Most full-time J.D. students take 15 credits per semester; most part-time J.D. students take 9 or 10 credits per semester.
How will I be scored in the program?
The final score is based on points earned across three components: 25% learning activities and regular assessments; 15% proctored midterm exam; and 60% proctored final exam. Grades are assigned in accordance with Southwestern's academic policies for the program.
What are the technology requirements?
A reliable internet connection, a computer with webcam and microphone (for proctored exams and live sessions) meeting Southwestern's published technology specifications, a second device with a camera and microphone (for proctored exams), and a quiet space for exams. Full requirements are in the student manual and enrollment agreement.
Benefits
What do I earn if I complete the course?
All students who finish with a 70% or higher in total score points earn the Applied Legal Reasoning: Criminal Law Completion certificate, digital badge, a Southwestern J.D. application fee waiver, and a tuition credit equal to the tuition you paid, applied to first-term Southwestern J.D. tuition if you matriculate within 24 months of when the final score is released.
What does the Distinction tier earn?
Everything in the Completion tier, plus the Applied Legal Reasoning: Criminal Law Distinction badge, accelerated J.D. application review, and a 3-unit summer tuition benefit. Distinction requires 85% or higher in total score points.
If I earn Distinction, am I guaranteed admission to Southwestern's J.D. program?
No. Distinction earns you an accelerated review of your Southwestern J.D. application, but admission is not guaranteed. You must still meet all Southwestern J.D. admissions requirements, including any admission-test requirement. Accelerated review means the admissions office will review and notify you of an admissions decision within 3 weeks from the time your application is considered complete.
How long do I have to use my benefits?
Participants who earn a certificate must matriculate into Southwestern’s J.D. program within 24 months of the date their final 1L Trial Run Program grade is released to use any benefits earned based on their performance in the 1L Trial Run Program.
Can I transfer my benefits to someone else?
No. Any benefits earned are personal to the participant, cannot be redeemed for cash or other value, and cannot be transferred to another person or used at another institution.
If I complete the 1L Trial Run Program, can I apply to law schools other than Southwestern?
Yes. Nothing about the 1L Trial Run Program limits your ability to apply anywhere else. Your Southwestern-specific benefits (fee waiver, tuition credit, accelerated review, summer tuition benefit) apply only if you enroll at Southwestern. Some law schools may consider the 1L Trial Run Program completion favorably in a holistic review, but each school will have its own policies and procedures.
If I am also interested in starting a J.D. program soon, when should I aim to start the J.D.?
Southwestern’s 3- and 4-year J.D. programs, both Fall 2027 and Fall 2028 are possible; 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.
Student Support
Will I receive academic support during the course?
Yes. In addition to the support students will receive from Professor Carpenter, students will also have access to faculty who will host sessions on key academic skills such as case reading and briefing, time management, exam-taking, including exam writing, and other academic skills needed to succeed in a law school course. Southwestern’s Student Services Office is also available for personal and accommodation matters. (Please note that students will not have access to Southwestern’s Career Services Office.)
Can I request disability accommodations?
Yes. Southwestern's academic accommodations process is available to 1L Trial Run Program students. Requests should be made to the Office of Student Services as early as possible, but no later than February 1, 2027; the process is described in the student manual.
Will I receive a Southwestern email address and ID?
Yes. You will receive both a Southwestern email account (used for course communications) and a physical ID card (used during the proctored exams).
Do I have access to the law library or campus facilities?
No. Students enrolled in the 1L Trial Run Program will not need access to Southwestern’s Library or other facilities.
After the Program
What if I don't complete the course?
You will not earn program benefits, but you can still apply to Southwestern's J.D. program through the regular admissions process. 1L Trial Run Program performance is not reported to bar authorities and is not shared with other law schools, unless the student violates Program policies that require disclosure. Attempting the course and learning that law school is not your path is a valuable outcome; the whole point of the 1L Trial Run Program is to give you an accurate answer.
Absent extraordinary circumstances, you may only enroll in the program only once.
How do I use my benefits?
You will receive an email within two weeks of grades being released with specific instructions for each benefit you may have earned. The application fee waiver and accelerated review are activated when you apply. The tuition credit is applied to your first-term J.D. bill upon matriculation. The summer tuition benefit is applied when you register for summer courses after matriculation.
How do I receive my certificate and badge?
Within two weeks of grades being released, Southwestern will issue a formal certificate of completion delivered digitally in PDF and available in a printed format on request.
Your badge will be issued through Parchment. You can share it on LinkedIn, in email signatures, on a personal website, or in a professional portfolio. The badge is issued to you personally and cannot be transferred to anyone else. Each badge includes metadata identifying the issuing institution, the program, the tier, and the date issued.
Both the certificate and badges use the name Applied Legal Reasoning: Criminal Law to reflect the transferable skills you build in the course. This framing is intentional: whether or not you go to law school, the ability to read cases, reason under uncertainty, and construct a legal argument is valuable in policy, business, compliance, journalism, and public service.