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.

No, this is designed as a basic introduction to a variety of aspects of U.S. law studies. While some legal background will be helpful, this is designed to start at the beginning and assumes no prior knowledge. Non-lawyers can take the course, as well.

No. While the course is designed to address the topics of which any student entering a BU LLM Program should be aware, the course is useful for international students preparing to enter any LLM program at other law schools.

In each class, ASIL teaches you the skills you will need to succeed in your LLM program, and then allows you the opportunity to practice and apply those skills so you can see your own improvement. ASIL focuses specifically on the following areas:
• Introduction to Survival Skills (Notetaking and Time Management Strategies)
• Introduction to Survival Skills (Active Reading and Case Briefing)
• Participating in US Law School Classes and Case Synthesis
• Legal Reasoning and Objective Legal Writing (Case Briefing and Outlining)
• Writing Law School Exams
• Speaking Skills

August 11–21, 2025

Reading is a vital skill for success in any US LLM program. Each professor will provide a group of slides to the students and perhaps some short readings that can be reviewed on an overnight basis. There will be no cost for books or materials.

Tuition for the 2025 session is $2,000. Tuition must be paid by the first day of the program.

Rebecca Pendleton, Lecturer, Director of the Two-Year LLM Program and Brooke Arlington, Lecturer, Two-Year LLM Program

Yes, you will learn the foundations of US common law principles and how the doctrine of precedent works in persuasive advocacy.

August 1, 2025. Course registrations received after that date will be processed on a space-available basis.

Students who choose to withdraw from ASIL must do so in writing no later than the day before the first day of class in order to receive a 100% refund of tuition and fees. Students withdrawing in the first three days of the course will receive a 100% tuition refund, but no refund of the $60 fee. As of the fourth day of the course, no refund is available.

No. Students who are enrolling in one of BU Law’s LLM programs will take this course within the 30-day period before the start of their graduate program during which they are allowed to enter the United States. International students who are not enrolled in a BU degree program must contact us at isso@bu.edu to discuss their visa status.

Please contact us at gradint@bu.edu