Pre-law students who begin the Pipeline to Justice Program in Fall and successfully complete it will matriculate as part of the law school class entering the following August.
Pipeline offers a second chance at admission to excellent, public interest-focused students who seek additional preparation for law school and whose LSAT scores do not reflect their achievements or potential. The program is designed to help students better prepare for the LSAT exam and for the rigors of law school.
Pipeline students come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Some come directly from undergraduate programs, while others have been in the workforce for decades. Pipeline students, like the entire student body at CUNY Law, are incredibly diverse across race, ethnicity, religion, ability, sexual orientation, and gender expression and identity.
Launched in 2006, the Pipeline to Justice program accounted for a 20 percent increase in students of color among the incoming class. Pipeline enriches the student body at CUNY Law by attracting students who have personal and professional accomplishments that resonate with CUNY Law’s mission and who are deeply motivated to excel. The program has also helped cement CUNY Law’s ranking as one of the most diverse law schools in the country.
Join us for a Pipeline to Justice Information Session
Pipeline to Justice Information Session- In Person | 12/7/2023 at 7-8:30 PM
Register Today
Pipeline to Justice Information Session- Virtual | 1/18/2024 at 6-7:30 PM
Pipeline to Justice Information Session- Virtual | 2/15/2024 at 6-7:30 PM
Pipeline to Justice Information Session- Virtual | 3/15/2024 at 6-7:30 PM
Pipeline to Justice Information Session- In Person| 6/20/2024 at 7-8:30 PM
How to Apply to Pipeline to Justice
The 2024 application period for the Pipeline to Justice program is from May 1 through 11:59 PM on July 25.
There are two ways to apply to the Pipeline to Justice program:
If you applied to CUNY Law for matriculation in 202x or 202x and were denied you need only;
- Complete and submit the 2024 Pipeline Application Questionnaire and upload your video by July 25, 2024. (Please email our team in order to obtain the Questionnaire which includes the video instructions and upload link.) OR
- Complete the “Pipeline Only Application” via the LSAC Application Portal, which requires:
- a non-refundable $60 (U.S.) application fee;
- a personal statement;
- a resume;
- an active and complete CAS subscription, including a recent LSAT score and LSAT Writing Sample (Please note that to be considered for the Fall 2023 Pipeline cohort, the last accepted LSAT scores will be the June 2023 LSAT);
- two letters of recommendation
- Upload the video as instructed on the application
How it Works
In order to be eligible to apply to the Pipeline to Justice program you must apply to CUNY Law School for the current academic year, or the preceding academic year, and receive a denial determination OR apply directly via CUNY Law’s Pipeline-Only application which can be found at LSAC.org. With either option, a completed application includes a Pipeline Questionnaire (included as part of the Pipeline only application or sent via email to those denied admission to CUNY Law) and a video response.
The program consists of a two-part course designed to help students better prepare for the LSAT exam and for the rigors of law school.
Part I consists of intensive, individualized preparation for the LSAT exam itself. It meets twice a week in the evenings from October to February. In addition, there are weekend at-home diagnostic testing sessions each week. Students receive coaching on test anxiety, self-efficacy skills, and individualized study planning.
Part II is devoted to professionalism and professional skill development including analytic reasoning, professional writing and public speaking. It meets twice a week from 6:30–9:30 p.m. from March to May. Students receive written and oral feedback on weekly assignments and are expected to revise their written work until they demonstrate graduate-level writing ability.
Students who successfully complete both Part I and Part II of the program, and successfully pass a final examination, are invited to join CUNY Law’s 1L class in August.
The Results
As students, Pipeline participants are leaders on campus. Pipeline students have served as the presidents of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), as well as editorial board members of CUNY Law Review and president of the Public Interest Law Association. Pipeline students have also been selected by their graduating classes to speak at commencement.
During the summer, Pipeline students have held legal internships at places such as The Legal Aid Society, the Center for Popular Democracy, the New York State Bar Association Minority Health Law Program, Queens Legal Services, Outten & Golden LLP, the NYC Department of Buildings, the Federal Community Defender Office, and through the American Bar Association Judicial Intern Opportunity Program. Matriculated Pipeline students receive guidance, encouragement, and support (including mentoring, academic, and socio-emotional support as well as assistance with the acquisition of professional skills) throughout their course of study and through the bar examination.