Pre-Law Pipeline Program

NYLS is creating pre-law pipeline programs with the goal of providing individuals from underrepresented populations with a dedicated set of opportunities to explore the law and create a pathway to earn their J.D. degrees at NYLS.
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Pre-Law Pipeline Program

Supporting a more diverse law school community and legal profession is a critical component of NYLS’s 2020 Strategic Plan.

To live up to our commitment, we've created a pre-law pipeline program to provide individuals from diverse populations with dedicated opportunities to explore the law and create a pathway to earn their J.D. degrees at NYLS.

In 2019, NYLS launched its Summer Pre-Law Program for college students.

Learning New Skills and Finding Belonging in the Pre-Law Pipeline Program

Undergraduate Program

 

Participants in the Summer Pre-Law Program attend courses at NYLS for two consecutive summers. The program is open to rising college juniors who study in the New York City metropolitan area, or elsewhere in New York State. NYLS works directly with undergraduate partner institutions to identify candidates.

The program runs for four weeks the summer before students’ junior year and four weeks the summer before students’ senior year. The summer program for 2026 begins on June 1, 2026 and concludes on June 25, 2026. As part of the program, NYLS checks in with participating students throughout their junior and senior years and provides them with law school-related resources.

The curriculum, developed and taught by NYLS’s faculty, includes four hours of class per day, four days a week, covering the following topics:

  • Introduction to Legal Method
  • Written Legal Communication
  • Introduction to LSAT Preparation
  • Academic Success
  • Professional Development
  • Project-Based Capstone

The Project-Based Capstone represents the culmination of students’ work during each summer session. Students will engage in simulated arguments on behalf of a “client.”

Applications are now open. The application deadline is Friday, April 10, 2026. Decisions will be communicated by the end of April. Application requirements are as follows:

  • Completed application
  • Personal statement
  • Résumé
  • Letter of recommendation (LOR)
  • Recent undergraduate transcripts

Please contact Ella Mae Estrada, Associate Dean and Vice President for Enrollment Management, Student Financial Services, and Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, at 212.431.2888 with any questions.

Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion •  T 212.431.2854  •  E diversity@nyls.edu