At NJ Admissions Law Day, you can speak with law school admission representatives from NJ, NY, and across the U.S. about what their programs have to offer and how you can prepare for success in the admission process.

1 – 2 p.m.: Law School Admissions Panel Discussion

For this session, you will hear from law school admissions officers about what they look for when reviewing applications and how candidates can best represent themselves.

2 – 4 p.m.: The Law School Admissions Fair

This is your chance to meet face-to- face with law school admission professionals from NJ, NY, PA, MA and many more law schools across the U.S. and explore the variety of experiences currently offered to J.D. candidates (from accelerated to online and part-time programs).

• Be prepared to share information about you, your interests, and goals!
• Dress to impress! Business attire recommended.
• If you are unable to register, please email prelaw@montclair.edu.

Questions? Email Chrysten Colacicco, Pre-Law Program Coordinator at MSU, at prelaw@montclair.edu

According to LSAC data on LSAT scores, students from underrepresented groups statistically score lower than the national average. With more than 50% of 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 students identifying as underrepresented minorities, Pre-Law Program Director Isabelle Ramos saw a great opportunity to provide test preparation and help 麻豆传媒在线 students maximize their potential.

Rise LSAT鈥檚 founder and LSAT Lab鈥檚 director, Laura Damone, specifically sees the importance of bridging the score gap between students from marginalized backgrounds and the national average.

鈥淚 was pleased to learn of Laura鈥檚 extensive experience with LSAT preparation and her commitment to work with minority serving institutions who have limited budgets and high-need students,鈥� says Ramos.

She also explains the goal of the program is to deliver a 鈥渟upportive LSAT prep experience that allows participants to connect with each other, access virtual LSAT prep instruction and come together in-person for proctored tests.鈥�

The course begins with three days of in-person sessions, which sets a strong foundation of personalized instruction for students, before transitioning to an online format of three 90 minute sessions per week.

The intensive course design is meant to simulate the reality of the LSAT exam, which can be overwhelming and difficult for many. Underrepresented students typically suffer the most from these challenges as they are less likely to have the time or financial ability to enroll in programs that will prepare them for the rigors of the exam.

鈥淎 lot of the required preparation for the LSAT includes practice and carving out the time and place for a test that is two and a half hours, (and that) can be a challenge for participants with jobs and households to maintain,鈥� Ramos acknowledges. 鈥淭he cost of LSAT prep and the class schedules can be a barrier for law school candidates and this initiative is to help students access resources and education that will accelerate their LSAT performance and develop the skills needed in law school.鈥�

麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 prep program came at no cost to the students, other than the $114 purchase of LawHub if they did not receive an LSAC fee waiver, which most participants qualified for. All other聽 expenses were covered by the University鈥檚 annual NJ Law School Admissions Day, which is approaching its 42nd anniversary.

Students who wished to apply needed to write a simple 400-700 word essay on why they would be a suitable candidate, focusing primarily on their ability to tackle challenges and be dedicated students in an in-person and virtual classroom environment.

Peace Adeniyi-Idowa, a participating junior with a double major in and and a minor in , feels that 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 new LSAT prep program 鈥渋s one of the best initiatives鈥� the University has introduced. Within weeks of enrolling in the program, her practice test scores have increased by several points and Adeniyi-Idowa is confident she will achieve a competitive score come her test date in August.

鈥淚 feel very fortunate to be part of this program,鈥� she says. 鈥淭he instructors have been supportive and knowledgeable, offering valuable insights that have significantly enhanced my understanding of the material.鈥�

Among those insights is something Laura Damone shared during their very first session: 鈥淪low is steady and steady is fast.鈥� This was helpful for Adeniyi-Idowa who admits she initially struggled with the complex material and wanted quicker results than she was seeing. Since being advised to take her time becoming more familiar with the content, Adeniyi-Idowa has sped up her ability to answer questions.

鈥淭his approach has taught me the importance of patience, understanding, and mindfulness. These are skills that will be valuable well beyond my exam,鈥� she says.

Similarly, Mona Shujaieh, a senior majoring in with double minors in and , appreciates the LSAT prep program for helping her sort through what is often overwhelming for students anticipating taking the LSAT.

鈥淭he preparation made the LSAT much more manageable and accessible,鈥� Shujaieh says. 鈥淭he in-person meetings with Laura were incredibly beneficial, allowing me to ask questions and learn everything I needed to know and making the experience more tangible.鈥�

Beyond the studying of material and exam preparation, the course also explained the various fee waivers and accommodations available to students, which Shujaieh feels was extremely helpful.

The Rise LSAT Lab offered students a comprehensive 13-week study plan and provided weekly 鈥淟SAT Prep Insight,鈥� which tracked each student鈥檚 individual productivity and accuracy while highlighting areas for improvement.

Shujaieh predicts that the skills she鈥檚 developed while being enrolled in the program will follow her past the exam: 鈥淭hese skills鈥攃ritical reading and analysis, time management, and discipline鈥攚ill be incredibly useful beyond the LSAT. They are essential for success in law school and in a legal career. This preparation has not only equipped me for the LSAT but also for the demanding journey ahead in law school and beyond.鈥�

Come this August, Shujaieh says, 鈥淚 am aiming for a high LSAT score to apply to top law schools confidently.鈥�

We wish both Peace Adeniyi-Idowa and Mona Shujaieh luck on their LSATs!

Written by Sarah Ramirez

Isabelle Ramos, the Pre-Law program director, hopes that through this program students will see the legal profession as a place that they can belong and picture themselves in. 鈥淭his program challenges students to think about their values as a professional as well as what client or communities they want to represent as an attorney,鈥� Ramos says.

The program strives to focus on real-world issues. Ramos emphasizes 鈥渢he importance of including the rights of Native American and Indigenous peoples in our program was foundational to understanding why and how land in the U.S. may be transferred between tribal nations and private individuals.鈥� Additionally, Indigenous people have been disproportionately affected by land contamination issues. 鈥淢any of the students told us this was the first time they have learned about land appropriation and about Native American communities in NJ that are surviving and protecting their culture.鈥�

Mark Clatterbuck, associate professor of Religion and co-director of 麻豆传媒在线’s Native American and Indigenous Studies program, notes the valuable opportunity this program provides for students. Although any career path allows students to support Native communities, Clatterbuck specifically highlights that 鈥渙ne of the most urgent needs for Indigenous communities today is legal advocacy on behalf of environmental justice and defense of tribal sovereignty. If even a couple of this year’s students leave the program with a passion for this work, I’d say it was a huge success.鈥�

In addition to classroom work, students made trips to visit Rutgers and Pace University Law Schools to get first-hand experience with what a law class is like and hear from admission officers about how to prepare for the law school admission process. 鈥淭his allows the participants to connect their experience in the program with what could be their future,鈥� Ramos says. Students also visited the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, District of New Jersey, and met with the pretrial services department, a U.S. Marshal, U.S. attorneys, The Honorable Judge Patty Schwartz and her two law clerks.

Pre-Law Summer Academy students on a visit to Munsee Three Sisters Farm listen to Chief Vincent Mann speak

While visiting the Munsee Three Sisters Medicinal Farm in Newton, NJ, students heard from Chief Vincent Mann of the Turtle Clan Ramapough Lenape Nation, about their experiences with environmental racism, specifically the allowance by NJ policymakers at the time to allow聽 Ford Motor Company to dump toxic industrial waste in nearby Ringwood, making the tribe鈥檚 ancestral homeland a deadly — and still active — federal Superfund Site. The results of this contamination include negative health impacts, toxic land and poisoned water. While this is a tragedy, Clatterbuck notes the importance of how students 鈥渃an take steps to challenge these patterns of exploitation by imagining a different application of the law & daring to radically change these rigged systems to create a more just future for all of us.鈥�

The students did take steps to challenge the patterns, as they collaborated to write a letter to NJ legislators informing them of the environmental contamination and the death toll it has had on the Ramapough Lenape Nation as well as proposing solutions for how NJ can move forward. The letter will be emailed to legislators this week.

Written by Faith Monesteri, Fulcomer Intern

Let’s come together to unlock a challenge gift of $2,500 from the Dean’s Office. Every gift, dollar for dollar, will be matched up to $2,500. Gifts of all sizes add up to big change! The Pre-Law Program Fund is established to support initiatives that increase the preparedness of pre-law students for law school and success on their path to a legal career.

Emayzyah Reeves, a current senior and President of the Pre-Law Society, said she felt inspired by what she learned about each of the different pathways to becoming the type of attorneys she and other Pre-Law Society members aspire to be.

Each of the panelists shared how their college experience coupled with real world work experience allowed them to successfully pursue law school and find a career that was a good fit based on their interests and skills. For example, Dave Wertheim 鈥�79 the Vice President of Ferrari North America, upon graduating with a degree in Political Science, he worked full-time with Volvo and attended law school part-time at Seton Hall University Law School for five-years and held other positions before he landed his role at Ferrari. However, according to Dave, it was his clerkship with a federal judge in law school that prepared him most for success as an attorney.

Throughout the meeting, students were completely engrossed in the discussion as each panelist shared what their daily work life looks like and the challenges that come with being a lawyer. Kyle Peters 鈥�12, who graduated from UCLA Law School and now serves as a criminal defense attorney for the Legal Aid Society of NYC, worked with labor unions and tried out immigration law before finding that his passion was criminal defense work. Kyle described the various challenges with representing indigent clients who may not have a home address or access to email or telephone. For several students who attended, Kyle is living their dream and doing exactly what they want to do: be a criminal defense attorney.

Sal M. Anderton 鈥�95, shared how his initial goal of being the go-to lawyer in the community shifted when he was offered other opportunities to assist state legislators as counsel on various legal issues and now lobbyists as well. Sal, who graduated from Seton Hall University Law School and now serves as Of Counsel to Porzio, Bromberg & Newman and Vice President and General Counsel of Porzio Governmental Affairs, agreed with the other panelists that interpersonal skills and networking were essential to his success in the legal field. In addition, Sal鈥檚 experience as President of the 麻豆传媒在线 Student Government Association and academic experience as a double major in Political Science and Philosophy prepared him to provide counsel to private and governmental organizations.

After an engaging discussion Q&A session, pre-law students who participated in the meeting each took away valuable advice unique to where they are on their education and career path. 鈥淎ll three panelists work in very different fields and have very different client bases, but they were all satisfied with what they do. Kyle Peters especially emphasized the importance of finding a field you love. This is definitely something I will take to heart as I go through the process of preparing myself for a legal career.鈥� said Emma Geoghegan a current junior and Policy Studies major. Victoria Reamer, a sophomore and Secretary of the Pre-Law Society, said the 麻豆传媒在线 alumni panel discussion helped her understand how to navigate her way into a legal career, 鈥渟tarting from course selection to internships, because it made me realize how truly passionate I am about this career field.鈥�

The Pre-Law Society meeting was an excellent forum for current students to hear feedback from 麻豆传媒在线’s alumni about what it it鈥檚 like to be an attorney and whether or not a law career is right for them. 鈥淭he advice shared with students today will serve them throughout their time at the University and beyond,鈥� said Isabelle Ramos, 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 Pre-Law Program Director. The meeting was not only informative, but it also allowed students to begin networking with attorneys and reflect on the attorney they would like to become. This panel discussion is just one example of how the 麻豆传媒在线鈥檚 alumni, Political Science faculty, and the Alumni Engagement Office help the University鈥檚 pre-law students connect with law practitioners and, ultimately, impact the future of justice. Stay tuned for more events featuring 麻豆传媒在线 alumni attorneys this spring and summer 2023!

Are you interested in law school or a career in law but not sure where to begin? Admission Unmasked will provide the insights you need to strategically and effectively navigate the law school admission process. You鈥檒l gain an understanding of the important application components, how you can better position yourself as an applicant, and how to make more informed choices about where to apply, along with what a law degree could mean for your career. You will also have a chance to learn how to write an effective personal statement that you can use in your applications. Admission Unmasked will leave you excited and confident to begin your journey.

Who should attend: Anyone interested in law school or the legal profession.

Admission Unmasked is free to all LSAC LawHub members.

Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP) is a two-day pre-law summer seminar which focuses on the law school application process. Participants should intend to apply to law school in the fall semester after attending the program. The primary goal of ASAP is to help prospective law school applicants understand the importance of factors in the admission process that are often overlooked or undervalued.

To participate in the ASAP Pre-Law Program, you must have at least a 2.7 undergrad GPA, and be either a senior in the fall of 2023 or a college graduate. You must submit an application through CLEO. The $30 application fee is non-refundable. Upon acceptance into the program, students are required to pay a $30 seat deposit, which is also non-refundable.

When you apply, please be prepared to attach to your application the following mandatory documents in .doc, .jpg or .pdf format ONLY:

• Unofficial College transcripts
• Essay: One page, double spaced, describing your interest in pursuing a legal career

贬辞蝉迟听尝补飞听厂肠丑辞辞濒蝉听&补尘辫;听顿补迟别蝉:

• 闯耻苍别听24听&补尘辫;听25听丑辞蝉迟别诲听产测:听狈别飞听驰辞谤办听尝补飞听厂肠丑辞辞濒听(狈别飞听驰辞谤办,听狈驰)
• 闯耻濒测听8听&补尘辫;听9听丑辞蝉迟别诲听产测:听骋辞濒诲别苍听骋补迟别听鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟测听厂肠丑辞辞濒听辞蹿听尝补飞听(厂补苍听贵谤补苍肠颈蝉肠辞,听颁础)
• 闯耻濒测听15听&补尘辫;听16听丑辞蝉迟别诲听产测:听础尘别谤颈肠补苍听鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟测听奥补蝉丑颈苍驳迟辞苍听颁辞濒濒别驳别听辞蹿听尝补飞听(奥补蝉丑颈苍驳迟辞苍,听顿颁)
• 闯耻濒测听29听&补尘辫;听30听丑辞蝉迟别诲听产测:听罢丑别听鲍苍颈惫别谤蝉颈迟测听辞蹿听颁丑颈肠补驳辞听尝补飞听厂肠丑辞辞濒听(颁丑颈肠补驳辞,听滨尝)

Advantages of being an ASAP participant include:

• Provides a head start on the law school admissions process
• Establishes mentoring relationships with CLEO students in law school
• Nominal fee
• Opportunity to network with law school of admission deans/directors from across the nation
• An opportunity you don鈥檛 want to miss

Targeted Students:

• ASAP is open to college juniors and seniors, as well as post-graduates

Each team attended virtual or in-person coaching sessions to prepare their arguments and 鈥渃ase in chief鈥� as both prosecution and defense. Students who prepared for the role of attorney received coaching from an experienced member of the Manhattan District Attorney鈥檚 Office and learned how to apply the Rules of Evidence to the fact-finding process and prepare to make objections that support their case strategy. Faculty members from Justice Studies, Paralegal Studies, Justice Studies, and Jurisprudence, Law and Society supported Mock Trial participants as coaches and judges for the competition.

The Mock Trial Competition began with four teams competing in two rounds; two teams were invited to compete in round three. Winners of the Mock Trial Awards were selected after weighing several factors in addition to calculating points given by judges in each round. In addition to the award winners, several participants stood out for their ability to execute their role(s) effectively as well as support their teammates when unforeseen challenges were presented. One team had a member that played the role of four different witnesses while another team had a member take on the tole of student-attorney role just days before arguments for the competition were to begin. Each team was successful in overcoming obstacles in order to present their case and our judges were thoroughly impressed.

In early May, the Pre-Law Society President Nazish Naeem presented the trophies to the 2022 Mock Trial Competition awardees before presiding over elections for next year鈥檚 Pre-Law Society leadership positions. During the award presentation, several Mock Trial participants expressed how much they enjoyed the experience and could actually apply what they learned in the competition to their viewing of the Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard trial that is being televised. Congratulations to all of the 麻豆传媒在线 2022 Mock Trial Competition participants and stay tuned for information about the 2023 Mock Trial Competition.

Mock Trial Competition Team Roster:

Team 1: Emma Geoghegan, Elijah Gervais, Victoria Reamer, Emayzyah Reeves
Team 2: Nashita Chowdhury, Lilia Franco, Aiman Kashif, Samantha Macpherson
Team 3: Marielina Halabi, Emily Perri, Mellisa Sammy
Team 4: Sonya Agnew, Nour Fostok, Elen Nossier, Ludovico Povolo

Mock Trial Competition Winners:

Best Mock Trial Team: Team 3: Marielina Halabi, Emily Perri, Melissa Sammy
Outstanding Student-Advocate: Samantha Macpherson
Outstanding Witness: Elijah Gervais

Best Mock Trial Team winner: (pictured left to right) Nazish Naeem (presenter) and Emily Perri (not pictured) Marielina Halabi and Melissa Sammy

Student Advocate winner: (pictured left to right) Nazish Naeem (presenter) and Sam Macpherson

Oral arguments are scheduled for April 6 and April 8, 2022. This year, four teams each made up of four students, will compete for the prize of Best Mock Trial Team. Individual awards for Best Student Advocate and Best Witness will also be presented. The Mock Trial Competition is made possible by 麻豆传媒在线 faculty members who are trained attorneys, advocates, and trial experts, dedicated to preparing students for success in law school.