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Explore our Minority Student Program – where diversity thrives and success knows no bounds. Join us in building a more inclusive and brighter future.
The Minority Student Program (MSP) is committed to fostering inclusivity and supporting all students who have faced socioeconomic or educational disadvantages. This nationally acclaimed program is designed for individuals of underrepresented groups in the legal profession who have encountered discrimination or overcome social or socioeconomic challenges. The MSP takes a proactive approach to ensure the success of its students by providing essential resources such as legal skills development, academic support, mentoring, networking opportunities, internships, and more.
Regardless of race or ethnic background, all Rutgers Law School students can be considered for MSP. If you have questions, please contact Director and Assistant Dean Clifford Dawkins (Newark) at cdawkins@law.rutgers.edu or Assistant Dean Rhasheda Douglas (Camden) at rhasheda.douglas@rutgers.edu.
MSP comes with a multitude of benefits. To be considered for MSP, you must express your interest in your law school application. Participation in the program is determined after you have been admitted to Rutgers Law. If you have been admitted into MSP, you will be notified of your acceptance.
MSP offers a variety of academic support options, especially during your first year. Take advantage of a two-week summer orientation program that will help set the stage for your success throughout your time at Rutgers Law. Study with your peers in legal skills study groups.
Access paid internship opportunities specifically for our MSP students.
In the field of law, building a network is critical for developing your skills and finding a job. Through the MSP program, you’ll have access to career panel discussions and networking events with MSP alumni.
Law school was a life-changing experience. It meant everything to me. The supportive environment of the MSP gave me the confidence and the skills to make a difference. I am forever grateful to the MSP and to the faculty who created it.
Zulima Farber '74, Partner, Lowenstein Sandler PC
Get to know more about MSP at Rutgers Law.
Discover more about MSP which includes more than 200 students.
Many MSP graduates have been and are judges, members of the U.S. Congress, and other accomplished positions. Explore more about our noteworthy graduates.
MSP has helped hundreds of men and women of color, or from disadvantaged backgrounds, build careers. Learn from our MSP alums about how our program influenced their lives.
Find out more about the paid summer internships available to MSP students.
The first cohort of students have completed the Minority Student Program (MSP) Pre-Law Summer Academy and celebrated with a graduation on July 27. With support from Ballard Spahr LLP, its chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, Virginia Essandoh, and the Law School Admission Council, the Pre-Law Academy offered eight weeks of LSAT preparation through 7Sage along with two proctored practice tests. However, the Academy’s support extended well beyond test preparation.
“The goal of the Pre-Law Academy was to provide students from underserved communities with the tools they need to improve their law school admission rates,” says Rhasheda Douglas, MSP assistant dean. “A lot of students from these communities have high application rates but lower acceptance rates, and that’s due to systemic inequalities like access to expensive test preparation programs.”
Throughout the eight-week Academy, students received in-depth admissions counseling from Rutgers Law School Senior Associate Dean of Admissions Matt Saleh as well as pre-law advising and support and learned how to compose a strong law school application. They also participated in mock law classes, networked with current MSP students, attended meetings with members of the judiciary and Bar Association leaders, and took part in career development opportunities such as alumni panels and visits to local law firms, a state government agency, and a public interest agency. The experience culminated in one-on-one meetings with admissions deans and directors from various law schools, where students reviewed their resumes, personal statements, and LSAT practice scores.
The program, which included both in-person and virtual components, was offered at no cost to participants.
“It was an amazing experience and the important gems I received throughout the program will stick with me throughout my life journey,” said Justin Baysmore, an alumnus of Pennsylvania State University who graduated from the Academy.
“This program has truly emphasized the importance of being part of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment, especially during a time when these values seem to be under attack,” said Jose Zarazua, a paralegal and Rutgers-Camden alumnus. “I am proud to be a graduate of this inaugural cohort and look forward to seeing how far this program will go in the future. I am confident that it will continue to shape and inspire future legal professionals as it has done for me.”
Academy graduates will have access to the online LSAT prep tools through the end of the year so they can continue to take practice tests and receive live feedback from instructors. And while Douglas admits that she would be elated should any of the Academy grads decide to apply to Rutgers Law School, she made it clear that the goal was to help them improve their chances of admission wherever they choose to apply.
“MSP is designed to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession overall, and the Summer Academy aligns perfectly with that mission because it invests in pipeline efforts, even if students don’t ultimately come to Rutgers Law School,” Douglas says, adding that the first Academy cohort included students not only from Rutgers University–Camden but also from Temple University, Penn State University, the University of Delaware, and other institutions. “If we can continue to reach as broadly as we can, I think we’ll achieve our goal of improving access to legal education,” she says. “The MSP—and the Summer Academy—are bigger than Rutgers alone and, thankfully, MSP is supported by law firm partners and other law-related entities that share the same goal.”
Plans are already in place for the Pre-Law Summer Academy to return in 2025, thanks to funding from MSP’s first-ever sponsor, Archer & Greiner PC.
We regret the passing of our beloved Career Counselor, Carol Fine, Esq.; Our hearts and prayers go out to Carol's family and loved ones. Carol will be greatly missed. We will never forget Carol's commitment to students in pursuit of their careers.
The University of Arizona Law School was the first law school to announce acceptance of the GRE in place of the LSAT® back in 2016. After piloting a program in 2017, Harvard Law School also began accepting the GRE for law school admission in 2018. Once the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted to allow law schools to accept applicants' scores from the GRE in lieu of the LSAT® in November of 2021, a larger number of law schools followed suit. The result? There are now 94 ABA-accredited law schools accepting the GRE, up from 26 law schools in May of 2019.
According to Harvard Law admissions in a 2019 panel discussion with pre-law advisors, the acceptance rate among GRE-only applicants mirrored that of all law school applicants to their program. Many of the schools accepting the GRE for more than one admissions cycle have cited studies showing that GRE performance is proving to be a reliable indicator of their students' first-year law school grades. Administrators at each school say that accepting GRE scores will make legal education accessible to students with a wider variety of academic, geographic, and financial backgrounds.
With the ABA-approval of the GRE as a viable alternative to the LSAT for admission, the Council offers the following guidelines to admissions offices under Standard 503:
The Council reminds schools that the use of test scores to make admissions decisions is subject to Standard 501(a)’s requirement that a school adhere to “sound admission policies and practices,” and that a law school may not admit applicants who do not “appear capable of satisfactorily completing its program of legal education and being admitted to the bar.” The Council also reminds schools that although Standard 503 does not prescribe the weight that law schools must give to an applicant's test score, it does require law schools to use admissions tests in a manner consistent with the test developer's current guidelines regarding the proper use of the results.
At The Princeton Review, we continue to follow the action and include questions on these policy changes in our annual survey of law schools. Our goal is always to provide students with the most accurate, comprehensive, and timely information they need to achieve their academic dreams.
Read More: How Many Times Can You Take the LSAT?
| LSAT | GRE | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Remotely proctored exam; laptop with webcam and microphone required, set up in a private room. | Computer-adaptive |
| Time | Approximately 3 hours, with one 10-minute intermission |
3 hours, 45 minutes |
| Topics | Analytical Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, and the unscored variable section | Verbal, Quantitative (math), and Analytical Writing |
| Date | Up to 10x per year | Almost any day of the year |
| Fee | $215 (plus a $195 subscription to the Credential Assembly Service, which is required for application to most law schools | $220 (plus you may still need a CAS subscription) |
| Accepted by | The vast majority of law schools in the United States |
94 law schools, see list above |
Explore our featured graduate schools & programs to find those that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.
Online JD programs offer flexibility, affordability, access to innovative technologies, students from a diversity of career backgrounds, and global opportunities.
Master of Studies in Law (MSL) programs are for non-lawyers whose careers in their organizations will benefit from legal training even though they are not required to be practicing attorneys.
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Each year, LSAC Law School Forums serve as invaluable opportunities for aspiring law students to learn about law school and connect with law school representatives. By attending an LSAC Law School Forum — whether in-person or online — you’ll be able to connect directly with law school representatives from across North America, learn about financial aid and the law school admission process, and get answers to any questions you may have.
If you’re thinking about law school, we encourage you to attend one — or multiple! — of these engaging live events. Individuals interested in JD and LLM programs, as well as those who are considering law-related master’s degrees and certificate programs, are encouraged to attend.
Saturday, October 5, 2024 / 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
Get Directions to the Westin Bonaventure Hotel
Book a Hotel Room at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel by Sept. 12 for a discounted rate
✓ Meet with law school reps from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PT or from 1:30 p.m.to 4 p.m. PT
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the Los Angeles Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. PT
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the Los Angeles Forum
Friday, October 18, 2024 / 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET
New York Hilton Midtown
Get Directions to the New York Hilton Midtown
Book a Hotel Room at the New York Hilton Midtown by Sept. 25 for a discounted rate
✓ Meet with law school reps from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET or from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the Friday New York Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the Friday New York Forum
Saturday, October 19, 2024 / 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
New York Hilton Midtown
Get Directions to the New York Hilton Midtown
Book a Hotel Room at the New York Hilton Midtown by Sept. 25 for a discounted rate
✓ Meet with law school reps from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET or from 1:30 p.m.to 4 p.m. ET
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the Saturday New York Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the Saturday New York Forum
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register by October 21
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
✓ Attend live workshops
Register as a JD candidate for the October Digital Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the October Digital Forum
Saturday, November 2, 2024 / 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Renaissance Boston Seaport Hotel
Get Directions to the Renaissance Boston Seaport Hotel
Book a Hotel Room at the Renaissance Boston Seaport Hotel by Oct. 10 for a discounted rate
✓ Meet with law school reps from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET or from 1:30 p.m.to 4 p.m. ET
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the San Francisco Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the San Francisco Forum
Saturday, November 9, 2024 / 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT
JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria
Get Directions to the JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria
Book a Hotel Room at the JW Marriott Houston by the Galleria by Oct. 18 for a discounted rate
✓ Meet with law school reps from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT or from 1:30 p.m.to 4 p.m. CT
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to your timeslot
Register as a JD candidate for the Houston Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. CT
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the Houston Forum
Thursday, November 14, 2024 / 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register by November 12
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the November Digital Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the November Digital Forum
Thursday, February 6, 2025 / 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register by February 4
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
✓ Attend a live workshop one hour prior to the forum
Register as a JD candidate for the February Digital Forum
✓ Meet with law school reps from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET
Register as an LLM, master’s, or certificate candidate for the February Digital Forum
Whether you attend the forums in-person or digitally, forum attendees will have the opportunity to:
All LSAC Law School Forums are free to attend. We encourage you to register for every forum date that interests you.
Log in to your LSAC account and visit the Forums page. Beneath the “Forums Registered” heading, click the “Access Digital Forum” link. You can then join the event using the email address associated with your LSAC account.
Once you log in to the digital forum platform, you’ll be taken to the digital lobby where you can select areas to visit and activities to participate in.
Anyone interested in pursuing an LLM, master’s, or certificate program is welcome to attend any forum! Law school representatives will be available to talk personally with you about the application process for U.S. or foreign-trained LLM candidates.
LLM workshops will be available for forum registrants to view on-demand in the digital forum platform, and a live Graduate Law Programs Workshop will be available during the digital forums. However, there won’t be any LLM, master’s, or certificate program workshops at the in- person forums.
JD candidates – Log in to register
LLM, master’s, and certificate candidates – Log in to register
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