A limited number of Camden-based entering first-year students with a demonstrated commitment to using their legal skills for the public good in a substantial way through public service will be selected for our elite Social Justice Scholars (SJS) Program. The SJS Program provides financial support and professional development opportunities throughout law school. If selected, you will carry the designation of "Social Justice Scholar." Scholars are not required to commit to careers in public service but do commit to prioritizing social justice throughout their careers. For a complete list of benefits and responsibilities, please see the Social Justice Scholars Program Description.

 Application and Selection Process

Only those who have been admitted to Rutgers Law as a Camden-based student are eligible to apply for the SJS Program. The SJS Selection Committee, including current SJS members and SJS alumni, will review applicants on a rolling basis according to the timetable below. We encourage you to submit the SJS application as early as possible.

Priority Due Date: March 1
Second Due Date: April 1
Third Due Date: June 1

Admission is competitive, and SJS applicants may be invited to interview by video or phone. The SJS application must be completed in one sitting (you cannot save it and complete it later). For more information about the Social Justice Scholars Program, or public interest activities in general, please visit the Rutgers Law website and/or contact Jill Friedman, Associate Dean for Pro Bono and Public Interest, at social-justice-scholars@law.rutgers.edu or 856-225-6263.

 

Though you already submitted a resume as part of your law school application, please submit your current resume, reflecting especially the experiences you think are relevant to your candidacy for the Social Justice Scholars Program. Do not include your Social Security number. Please upload as a PDF.
In 500 words or fewer, and in 12-point font or larger, describe why you should be designated as a Social Justice Scholar. You may choose to focus on your personal background and how it has sparked a particular passion; paid or volunteer experiences that have exposed you to a particular problem or population; coursework or academic experiences that excited you; or whatever you think demonstrates how and why you plan to devote your professional energies to public service and/or pro bono work. Make sure your name is on every page. Please upload as a PDF.
The SJS Committee will have access to the letters of recommendation submitted on behalf of your law school admissions application. Additional letters are suggested only if you would like to support your history of public interest work and dedication to work as a public interest attorney after graduation. Additional letters are not required, especially if you feel that the letters provided with your application clearly describe your public interest history and aspirations. Please include your name on the title of the document and upload it as a Word Doc or PDF.
I would like to be considered for the Rutgers Law Social Justice Scholarship. If selected, I understand this scholarship is based on the Camden campus and not portable. I pledge to participate in public interest programs generally and SJS projects specifically, and complete pro bono work totaling 100 hours over the course of law school. I understand that I must achieve academic good standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.710 at the end of each academic year in order for my SJS to be renewed. I agree that if selected, I will represent the program and the law school with integrity and in accordance with professional standards.