Law School Pathways Program

The law school pathways program is designed to aid first generation, low-income, and minority students from the Harlem/Bronx/Uptown area who are considering attending law school.

Please note: This program is currently on hiatus and is not taking applications. 

The year-long program will bring selected participants to Columbia Law School for “Saturday Academies.” These sessions will feature counseling on the law school application process as well as mentorship from attorneys and law students. Participants who complete the program will receive free LSAT preparation courses, networking opportunities, and admissions advising. The ultimate goal of this program is to diversify the legal profession and empower traditionally under-represented students to become successful law school applicants and lawyers.

Program Structure

The Pathways Program will be a free program consisting of Saturday Academies. The sessions will feature lectures, panels, and workshops, as well as small group and individual advising. The sessions will be led by law professors, current law students, and practicing lawyers from the New York City area. Potential topics include:

  • Exposure to the various careers in law and law-related fields
  • De-mystifying the law school application process
  • Financial advising, including navigating the financial aid process
  • How to succeed in law school and the legal profession
  • Leadership development
  • Social justice programming
  • Wellness coaching, including strategies on confronting and overcoming test anxiety, imposter syndrome, and micro- and macro-aggressions in the legal profession.

At the conclusion of the program, participants will have the opportunity to participate in a completely subsidized LSAT preparation. In addition, participants will have established networks for law school admissions advising.

Application Process & FAQs

Thank you for expressing interest in the Law School Pathways Program (LSPP)! Housed at Columbia Law School, LSPP is designed to foster ties between Columbia University and its surrounding communities, increase true diversity and representation within the legal profession, and uplift traditionally underrepresented communities. 

LSPP is aimed at empowering first-generation, low-income, and minority students from the Harlem/Bronx/Uptown area who are considering attending law school. The year-long program will bring participants to Columbia Law School for Saturday Academies. Programming will feature counseling on the law school application process and mentorship from attorneys and law students. Participants will receive free LSAT preparation resources, networking opportunities, and admissions advising. The ultimate goal of this program is to diversify the legal profession and empower traditionally underrepresented students to become successful law school applicants—and ultimately, successful lawyers.

As an organization, we are strongly committed to promoting diversity within our program. We encourage those from a wide array of backgrounds and with diverse life experiences to apply to join us!  

To be eligible for the program, you must: 

  1. Be from the Harlem/Bronx/Uptown area, or have a significant connection to one of these communities. 
  2. Identify as a first-generation, low-income, justice-impacted, and/or minority student. 
  3. Have a bachelor’s degree or expect to have a bachelor’s degree by the fall of 2022. 
  4. Expect to apply to law school in the fall of 2022. 


Note: You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident to apply.

 

Housed at Columbia Law School, the Pathways Program is designed to foster ties between Columbia University and its surrounding communities, increase true diversity and representation within the legal profession, and uplift traditionally underrepresented communities. See more about the program above.

Applications for the 2021–2022 cohort are now closed. Please check in soon to see when our application for next year will open. 

The application requirements include:

  • Basic demographic information
  • Socioeconomic background
  • Answers to three short essay questions
  • A statement of commitment to the program
  • A personal statement
  • A résumé 

The three short answer questions on the application are: 

  1. What is your connection to Harlem, the Bronx, or Uptown, and how has it influenced you or your life trajectory? (200 words max)
  2. What is one important goal that you would like to achieve within the next 5–10 years, and how do you intend to work towards it? (200 words max)
  3. Do you intend to pursue a career in law? If so, what do you imagine that would look like in the future? (200 words max)

Applications will be evaluated based on the clarity of your materials, your commitment to your community, and your potential impact on and involvement in the legal profession. 

We will reach out to final round applicants to conduct personal interviews via Zoom.

If you have any questions, please refer to our FAQ or contact [email protected].

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