Academic Skills Program

Berkeley Law is committed to fostering an academic environment in which all students can achieve their full potential. Through a variety of programs and services, the Academic Skills Program (ASP) helps students build the skills essential to success in law school and in practice. This includes self-care, which is a critical academic and lawyering skill.

Online Resources

ASP Fellows

We offer a series of skills workshops throughout the fall and spring semesters. Student fellows lead the workshops, which are designed to introduce core academic skills such as time management, outlining, and preparing for and taking law school exams. Fellows are also available for one-on-one meetings and to review practice answers. The workshops are open to all students. 

Individual Meetings

The ASP team is available to meet with students one-on-one to answer specific questions, review concepts and skills, discuss study strategies and exam preparation, assist with time management, etc. JD students can schedule a meeting using our online appointment system. LL.M. students should contact their Advanced Degree Program advisor. 

Pre-Orientation for JD Students

During the full week (Monday through Friday) preceding the week of 1L Orientation, we offer a small group of JD students an introduction to law school teaching methods and skills. Incoming first-year JD students will receive a letter in May with information about how to apply. This is a unique opportunity to better understand and practice the skills needed to succeed in law school, as well as meet other students. In order to give students ample time to plan their summer and arrival in Berkeley, the application process involves a tight turn-around. The application typically is due in early June, and we will let you know whether you have been accepted by late June.

Courses

Berkeley Law offers a number of courses through the lens of academic skills. This means that in addition to teaching the relevant substantive law, we also focus on developing and refining the skills essential to academic and professional success. These courses typically include Advanced Legal Writing, Constitutional Law, Lawyering As Problem-Solving, and Property. These classes require a short application.

Questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out.

Professor Diana DiGennaro, Director (ddigennaro@law.berkeley.edu)

Professor Erika Hernandez, Associate Director (erika.hernandez@berkeley.edu)

Schedule a meeting: https://BerkeleyLawASP.as.me/