In your first year at UC Merced, you can begin to explore programs or opportunities for pre-law students that may assist in your journey toward law school admission.
Many law schools offer programs to help current college students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in law school or the legal profession prepare to apply, enter, and succeed in law school.
Some programs may accept applicants as early as the first or second year of college.
Some programs may have a GPA requirement.
Most programs are free. Some may also pay a stipend to students who are accepted and complete the program.
Some examples of pre-law programs and opportunities are listed below--but note that this list is NOT exhaustive!
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
| UC Davis School of Law King Hall Outreach Program (KHOP) |
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Free program offered twice each year (KHOP Summer Session, KHOP Winter Session) and designed to help first generation college students or students from underrepresented communities prepare for the law school admission process. Includes a series of full-day Saturday presentations and workshops as well as one Friday in a trial or appellate courtroom.
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| UC Hastings College of the Law Black Pre-Law Summit |
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Designed to demystify the law school application process, gain insight into the transition to law school, and share information about the law school experience from current students and alumni from the UC Hastings Black Law Students Association. Typically held on a fall Saturday (may have virtual option for attendance).
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| UC Irvine School of Law Pre-Law Outreach Program (POP) |
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Free summer program that helps undergraduates from disadvantaged backgrounds understand the demands of law school, prepare for the law school application and admissions process, and be inspired to someday use their legal skills to give back to the community. Limited scholarships are available for transportation and/or housing costs.
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| UCLA School of Law Academic Outreach Resource Center Law Fellows Program |
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Designed to encourage and prepare high potential undergraduates for a career in law, increase the pipeline of diverse students interested in law, and demystify the law school experience. Includes a series of monthly Saturday workshops typically held at UCLA between January-May.
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| UCLA School of Law Academic Outreach Resource Center Central Valley Fellows Program |
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Designed to increase the pool of law school applicants and expand the delivery of legal services in the Central Valley of California. Selected fellows attend two full-day Saturday Academies held virtually that offer workshops on law school admission, preparation for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), and insight on areas of practice within the field of law.
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REGIONAL OR NATIONAL PROGRAMS
| Bar Association of San Francisco Justice & Diversity Center Destination Law School |
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Helps underrepresented students gain a better understanding of the legal profession and law school application process through a variety of presentations and workshops.
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| Bar Association of San Francisco Justice & Diversity Center Diversity Legal Pipeline (DLP) |
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Two-day intensive summer workshop for diverse students interested in and ready to apply to law school.
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| California Indian Law Association (CILA) Pathway to Law |
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Two-day workshop in March to guide undergraduate students through the law school application process and pair the student with an attorney mentor.
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| Centro Legal de la Raza Diversity Legal Pipeline |
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Free intensive weeklong pre-law bootcamp typically held in June that introduces law-bound undergraduates of color to the information, experiences, and resources necessary to be successful in the law school application process.
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| For People of Color, Inc. (FPOC) |
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FPOC goal is to empower people of color to enter law school and become attorneys by providing free workshops and admissions consulting to prospective law school applicants. Multiple workshops are offered throughout the academic year and often include admissions representatives or current law students from law schools across the United States.
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| Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) |
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HSF scholars are selected based on merit with award amounts of $500-$5,000 based on need. Scholars have access to career services, mentorship, leadership development, and select internship and job opportunities with HSF corporate partners. Scholars are also eligible to apply for all Scholar Conferences including the STEM Summit, Finance Conference, Media & Entertainment Summit, Entrepreneurship Summit, and Healthcare Summit.
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| Immigrants Rising Pre-Law Program |
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Organization created by educators to empower undocumented students to achieve their educational and career goals through personal, institutional, and policy transformation. Pre-Law Program includes Pre-Law 101 webinar (see November 2024 recording), four-day Pre-Law Bootcamp, grants to low income immigrants to cover the cost of LSAT preparation and law school applications through the Pre-Law Fund, and Pre-Law Program Alumni Network. Pre-Law Bootcamp is typically held virtually (on Zoom) on two January weekends for three hours each Saturday and Sunday (total of 12 hours) to assist students ready to apply to law school in the next application cycle.
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| Latino Justice Puerto Rican Legal Defense & Education Fund (PRLDEF) Luis J. DeGraffe LAWbound Summer or Winter Academy |
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Designed to identify pre-law Latinx students early in their college career to address common barriers related to law school admission, help students effectively navigate the law school admission process, and increase the number of Latinx students who successfully enter law school, complete law school, and pass the bar exam. Summer program is typically 5 days in early August; winter program is typically 5 days in early January.
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| Law School Admission Council (LSAC) Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program |
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Free summer program at various host law schools designed to assist participants in preparing for admission and understanding the experience of law school. Participants who successfully complete the PLUS Program receive a $1,000 stipend and LSAC fee waiver
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| Legal Education Access Pipeline, Inc. (LEAP) Fellowship |
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Nine-month program that begins in January designed to diversify the legal profession by preparing underrepresented students to become successful law school applicants, attorneys, and agents of social change.
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| Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP MTO Fellows Program |
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Ten-month initiative from March to December to prepare 25-40 diverse undergraduates for admission to and success in law school. Includes LSAT preparation course paid for by Munger, Tolles & Olson law firm and monthly Saturday workshops.
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| National Black Pre-Law Conference & Law Fair |
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Free national conference designed to share information, resources, and contacts to help increase the number of excellent competitive African American law school applicants and assist with mentoring for success in the law school experience and bar exam.
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| Pathway to Law Initiative: Native American Law School Admissions Workshop |
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Five-day program in June at the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University with workshops designed to educate and help Native American students successfully navigate the law school application process. Food and lodging are provided to all students admitted to the program.
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| Pre-Law Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PLSI) |
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Eight-week intensive summer program that prepares Native American and Alaska Native students for the rigors of law school.
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| Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (SEO) Law Catalyst |
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Nine-month program that begins in January to assist underrepresented students in applying and gaining admission to law school.
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| Sponsors for Educational Opportunity, Inc. (SEO) Law Fellowship |
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Provides the opportunity for incoming first year law school students to work at a top law firm from late May through mid-July in the summer before starting law school.
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| Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools (TRIALS) |
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Full scholarship residential five-week summer program that helps talented and motivated college students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds gain admission to the nation's leading law schools. Hosted in alternate years on the campus of Harvard Law School and New York University School of Law. Scholarship includes transportation to and from the host university campus, campus housing and daily meals for the five-week program, and access to the host university's library, computer centers, and gym. Each TRIALS student also receives a $3,000 stipend.
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| University of Colorado Mini Law School |
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Annual four-week series that focuses on cutting-edge legal issues; topics change annually. Lectures available in person (in Boulder, Colorado) as well as live online via Zoom or by viewing the recording available approximately two days after the live lecture.
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