Join us for the ALL R.I.S.E. Summer Program!

Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University faculty have designed an interactive program specifically to help incoming first-year students begin building the skills they need to succeed in law school. 

The All R.I.S.E. (“Reflecting,” “Improving,” and “Striving for Excellence”) Summer Program will introduce students to the U.S. legal system, sources of law, and the role of the lawyer as an advisor and problem-solver. The program also will help students take important steps toward developing their critical reading, case-briefing, legal reasoning and writing, and other essential skills. This summer program offers a critical starting point, as students will keep building and refining their use of these skills throughout their time in law school.  

There is no cost to participate in the All R.I.S.E. Summer Program and no need to RSVP! The program will be offered exclusively online over seven weeks, from Tuesday, June 17, through Tuesday, July 29, with one 90-minute interactive virtual session each week. The interactive sessions will take place via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. 

This summer’s interactive sessions have been developed and will be led by Megan E.K. Montcalm, Director of Academic Excellence and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills; Ashley M. London, Director of Bar Studies and Assistant Professor of Law; April Milburn-Knizner, Associate Director of Bar Studies and Assistant Professor of Legal Skills; and Tara Willke, Associate Dean for Strategic Academic Programs and Associate Professor of Law. 

All incoming first-year students should participate in the All R.I.S.E. Summer Program to lay the foundation and begin building skills that are essential for a successful and rewarding first year of law school. Students who satisfactorily complete the program will earn special Duquesne Kline swag, a certificate, and a credential for their resumes. Students who cannot attend the interactive sessions in real time still can satisfactorily complete the program by watching the recordings and submitting additional assignments related to the covered material.   

Together, we’ll be “Reflecting, “Improving,” and “Striving for Excellence” even before your first day of law school! We hope to see you there!

Note: Please hold off on contacting faculty for information on advanced assignments, textbooks, and syllabi, etc.  When this information is available you will be notified via your duq.edu email.

How to Access All RISE Summer Program

Accessing All RISE Summer Program

Module 1

The first week’s materials and Zoom link will be shared in advance by email. This will occur after you are registered for classes.*

*The Law School Registrar enrolls all incoming students for classes by June 17, 2025.  

Module 2-7

The materials and Zoom links for Modules 2 through 7 will be accessible via Canvas, which is Duquesne Kline School of Law’s learning management system. You will gain access to Canvas only after you are registered for classes. Duquesne Kline School of Law’s Registrar enrolls all incoming students in their classes. 

You will be notified via email once you are registered for classes. After you are registered, you will be able to access Canvas in the Duquesne Portal using your MultiPass. 

Steps:

  1. Set up your MultiPass Account, if you have not done so (click on “Claim Account or Forgot Your Password?” to set up your account; you will need your “D number” to do so)
  2. Log into the Duquesne Portal using your MultiPass
  3. Select “Canvas” from the menu on the left-hand side of the page, or from among the colored tiles (and note that Canvas may not be available to you until Tuesday, June 17)

 

Once you gain access to Canvas, you’ll find materials and links for this program by selecting “Academic Excellence Programming” from among the courses on your “Dashboard.” 

Navigate to “Modules” when looking for materials, and to “Zoom Meetings” when joining the weekly sessions or watching the recordings.  

Topics

The topics covered in each week of the program will include: 

  • Week 1 (June 17): Welcome & Introduction to the U.S. Legal System, Sources of Law, and Basic Legal Vocabulary
  • Week 2 (June 24): Introduction to the Lawyer’s Role & Responsibilities: Serving Clients Ethically as an Advisor & Problem-Solver
  • Week 3 (July 1): Introduction to Legal Reasoning: What Does It Mean to “Think Like a Lawyer”?
  • Week 4 (July 8): Foundational Skills: Reading Legal Authorities Critically & For Comprehension
  • Week 5 (July 15): Foundational Skills: Briefing Cases & Making Connections Between Authorities 
  • Week 6 (July 22): Foundational Skills: Understanding the Basics of Written Legal Analysis
  • Week 7 (July 29): Foundational Skills: Self-Assessment, Resourcefulness, Professionalism & Cultivating a Growth Mindset

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