Academic Skills for the International Lawyer (ASIL) is an intensive, two-week, zero-credit, in-person course that focuses on the most vital skills and strategies needed for success in an LLM program. The course will be taught by two full-time BU Law faculty members, who will use US court decisions to effectively illustrate and teach these skills.
Course Content
This course serves as a prep course for incoming one-year LLM students so they may enter their LLM year fully engaged and prepared for academic success. Students in the course can expect to:
- refine foundational skills and strategies that help with academic success in the law school environment;
- improve ability to take effective notes in class;
- acquire skills related to active and effective case reading;
- enhance ability to brief cases; and
- review principles of academic integrity / be introduced to the basics of proper citation form.
The final class project will involve an oral argument, which will give the students the opportunity to display the skills they have learned in the course.
Faculty
Eligible Students
We welcome any LLM student entering any 1-year graduate law program interested in a two-week course about US Law School fundamentals that will give them a running start on their LLM studies. We also welcome lawyers and non-lawyers alike who are simply interested in a short session on US law school skills and legal principles. There is no pre-requisite or post-requisite for this course.
REGISTRATION
Ready to register for ASIL 2025? Fill out the ASIL registration form and our office will be in touch with next steps.
This course runs in person at BU Law’s campus from August 11–21, 2025. Classes will be held Monday through Thursday 9:30am–1:30pm.
Sample Schedule & Dates from Summer 2024 (for reference only)
August 12
- Introduction to Survival Skills (Notetaking and Time Management Strategies)
August 13
- Introduction to Survival Skills (Active Reading and Case Briefing)
August 15
- Participating in US Law School Classes and Case Synthesis
August 16
- Legal Reasoning and Objective Legal Writing (Case Briefing and Outlining)
Week 2
August 19
- Writing Law School Exams
August 20
- Writing Law School Exams continued, and Oral Argument Skills
August 21
- Writing Law School Exams continued, and Oral Argument Skills
August 22
- Oral Argument
More Information
View Frequently Asked Questions about this course. More information about attending Boston University in the summer can be found here, although the registration, enrollment processes and conditions of enrollment for Academic Skills for International Lawyers are different from other Summer Term courses. If you have additional questions, please email gradint@bu.edu.