Seton Hall University has announced the launch of its Summer Law Academy, a week-long program aimed at introducing high school students to the legal system and potential career paths in law. The academy will run from July 20 to July 24, 2026, on Seton Hall’s main campus in South Orange, New Jersey, and will include a field trip to the university’s law school in Newark.
The program combines interactive instruction with hands-on experiences such as classroom discussions, case study analysis, mock trials, courtroom visits, and guest lectures by practicing legal professionals. Students will cover topics in constitutional and criminal law while developing skills in critical thinking, research, and communication.
Professor Adam Goguen will lead the academy. He currently teaches Introduction to Law and Legal Research I as well as The U.S. Constitution at Seton Hall. Goguen plans to offer courses on Common Law and Statutory Law in the future. He is an alumnus of Seton Hall’s School of Diplomacy and International Relations.
Goguen shifted his focus toward international legal development during his undergraduate studies. “I became interested in the United Nations,” he said, “and this ultimately led to an eleven-year career working on law reform and legal education in Africa.” His work included roles with the United Nations Development Programme and the International Development Law Organization in Sierra Leone and South Sudan. There he contributed to establishing law schools and supporting legal reform initiatives.
Goguen emphasized the importance of introducing younger students to legal studies: “Watching other people become excited about topics you find fascinating is a joy,” he said. “Helping students as they plan their early career is extremely rewarding.” According to Seton Hall University, the Summer Law Academy seeks to inspire future legal professionals by giving them early exposure to legal education and encouraging exploration of academic and public service careers.
Enrollment for the program is now open through Seton Hall’s Pre-College Summer Courses portal.
