PREPLaw Academy Inspires Future Legal Leaders
Aspiring lawyers often turn to courtroom dramas like the film A Few Good Men for inspiration, but a Rutgers collaboration offers a more authentic glimpse into the legal world through its annual PREPLaw program. This one-week intensive is designed to prepare Rutgers University students to become competitive law school applicants. Co-founder and Rutgers Law Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor showed part of the movie during this year’s program.
Short for “Paul Robeson’s Elite Pre-Law Academy Week,” PREPLaw exposes students to what they need to know when considering law school and what they can expect.
“As a Legal Profession Learning Community scholar, I always knew that I wanted to attend law school,” said Ajarat Ibrahim, a sophomore at Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences-Newark (SASN). “However, I originally planned to pass the bar and then continue my career in government, not considering practicing law as an attorney. Through PREPLaw, I participated in activities like Moot Court and Mock Trial for the first time and discovered that trial advocacy feels like where I truly belong. Although I still want to transition into government work, this experience helped me explore career options, particularly in the courtroom.”
Students closely examine cases and statutes, critically analyze how courts function, apply rules and precedents to current and hypothetical cases, learn about the LSAT, and participate in a mock criminal trial. The program is a collaboration of SASN’s Office of Academic Services and Rutgers Law School.
“As a transfer student this whole program was really exciting,” said Payton Paterson, a junior History major at SASN. “I heard from multiple individuals representing this program and other extremely relevant programs from within and outside Rutgers. All of these people provided actionable and specifically useful advice to the class in general and to me upon personal request. Every advisor will tell you that they are "there for you" or that they "want to make you great" but so far, the only ones that actually provide value to the effect of either of those statements are the people at SASN and Rutgers Law School.”
“As an advisor, it's incredibly rewarding to see students gain confidence through PREPLaw,” said Chazz Fellenz, SASN Assistant Dean of Pre-Professional Services. "This program not only equips them with foundational knowledge about the legal field but also shows them that law school is within reach. It’s about opening doors and helping them see what’s possible."
Since its launch in 2023, PREPLaw has grown to include a second phase. In addition to the original one-week experiential program—now known as PREPLaw 1— PREPLaw 2 was introduced as a summer LSAT prep program in partnership with The Princeton Review. Students who participated in last year’s PREPLaw 1 were invited to continue their journey through PREPLaw 2 at no cost.
Dr. Sofia Pinto-Figueroa, SASN Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education, said, “When then [Rutgers Law] Dean Rose Cuison-Villazor, Chazz Fellenz and I began this collaboration, our overarching goal is to help break down barriers to legal education for college students and help create a pipeline to law school. Our hope is that exposure to legal studies provided by Rutgers Law School faculty, alumni, administrators, and students will inspire these students to become lawyers and use their skills to serve their communities.”
This year, 10 Rutgers-Newark students and one recent graduate participated in the program, which was held in the Baker Courtroom at Rutgers Law School in Newark. The inaugural cohort in 2023 included 15 students from across Rutgers campuses: 13 from Newark, one from Camden, and one from New Brunswick.
The PREPLaw Academy is more than just a summer program—it’s a strategic effort to break down barriers to legal education. SASN Dean Dr. Jacqueline Mattis said, "Our current political landscape provides us with dramatic evidence of the power of the law as a lever for either preserving or dismantling the pillars of society, and for supporting or undermining the well-being of human beings. In my view, PREPLaw is precisely the kind of program we need to prepare an outstanding cadre of future legal scholars, lawyers, and judges who have the conceptual and ethical groundings and the skills needed to use the law in the service of public good.”
“I couldn’t agree more with Dean Mattis,” said Rutgers Law Dean Johanna Bond. “PREPLaw is a fitting example of Rutgers Law School’s commitment to equity and access in legal education. Through legal immersion, we’re not just preparing students for law school—we’re cultivating a generation of lawyers who understand the law’s power to advance justice and make a positive impact in their communities.”
Rutgers-Newark undergraduate students interested in learning more about the program and/or seeking pre-law advisement should reach out to Chazz Fellenz, Assistant Dean of Pre-Professional Services (chazz.fellenz@rutgers.edu)
