Tulane Law Students Build Core Legal Skills During Intersession
The spring semester at Tulane Law kicked off with Intersession, a week-long, intensive skills “boot camp” designed to help students hit the ground running in their first legal jobs.
During Intersession, students choose from four practice-focused tracks: pretrial civil litigation, pretrial criminal litigation, trademark prosecution, and transactional law. Throughout the week, they learn directly from more than 40 practicing attorneys, many of whom are Tulane Law alumni, gaining firsthand insight into the realities of legal practice and the expectations of the profession.
Now in its 14th year, Intersession has since prepared more than 1,200 Tulane Law students for the transition from the classroom to practice. Built around a hands-on, experiential model, the program emphasizes critical thinking, effective communication, and ethical decision-making—skills that enhance employability and support long-term professional success. It is organized by Dean of Experiential Learning and Public Interest Programs Tonya Jupiter (L'94) and Saia Smith, Assistant Director of Experiential Learning.
Intersession goes beyond traditional lectures, emphasizing active participation and realistic simulations. Students step into the role of practicing attorneys as they conduct depositions, negotiate agreements, interview clients, evaluate cases, engage in motion practice, prepare trademark applications, and draft pleadings or purchase agreements, all within a supportive, low-stakes learning environment.
A hallmark of Intersession is its emphasis on collaboration across disciplines. In the civil track simulations, for example, Tulane medical residents serve as expert witnesses, giving students a rare opportunity to better understand how attorneys work alongside experts in real-world cases. According to Christopher Teske, Co-Director of the Pre-Trial Civil Litigation Boot Camp, this has been a vital addition to the program. “It adds a whole different level to the program,” he said. “It’s a game-changer for the training our students are getting.”
Students in the trademark prosecution track also benefit from direct exposure to industry perspectives. Third-year law student Isa Reyes highlighted the opportunity to hear from in-house counsel working in the field. “Professor Feldman has two in-house counsel come in and speak to us,” Reyes said. “It’s been really informative to combine the doctrinal sessions with networking and learning from industry professionals.”
Tonya Jupiter, Associate Dean for Experiential Learning and Public Interest Programs, emphasized the importance of practical skill-building. “These skills are the ones that are really going to help you out in practice when you graduate from law school.”
By the end of the week, students leave Intersession with sharpened practical skills, valuable professional connections, and a clearer understanding of how the law operates in practice, setting the tone for a successful spring semester and beyond.
View more photos from Intersession here.
