“The Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management recognizes that the lived experiences of many of our immigrant and undocumented students are shaped by precarity and systemic invisibility.
Guided by this understanding, we place supporting vulnerable students at the forefront of our divisional efforts. Whether it is addressing housing and food insecurity, expanding wellness services, or identifying pathways for sustained financial support, we know the importance of connecting students with the resources they need.
I hope you’ll find the following on campus and external resources helpful.”
– Dr. Joanne Hyppolite, Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
Overview
This toolkit provides key resources and legal protections to support undocumented and immigrant students as they navigate their experience at CUNY Law. It also includes information on scholarships, mental health services, legal aid, and campus protocols to safeguard students’ right to a legal education.
Scholarships
Internal
Breaking Barriers Scholarship: CUNY Law’s signature award, Breaking Barriers, covers $24,000 over the course of your legal education. This multi-year award is contingent upon continued enrollment. The scholarship is based on financial need. A completed FAFSA is required as supporting documentation. However, if you cannot complete the FAFSA for any reason— including if it does not apply to you — please note that in your scholarship responses, so the committee understands your circumstances.
The Luis Sanjurjo Scholarship: The Luis Sanjurjo Scholarship was established in 2012 to honor Professor Luis Sanjurjo, a beloved educator and mentor at Medgar Evers College. The scholarship is awarded to students who embody his values, demonstrate a commitment to public service, and attended a CUNY undergraduate institution. This one-year $1,600 award is applied in equal installments to the student account during both the fall and spring semesters of the 1L year. A completed FAFSA is required as supporting documentation. However, if you cannot complete the FAFSA for any reason— including if it does not apply to you — please note that in your scholarship responses, so the committee understands your circumstances.
External
AccessLex Scholarship Databank: AccessLex offers a searchable databank of scholarships for law students. You can use the filters to search specifically for scholarships that you may be eligible for based on identity markers including immigration status.
MALDEF Scholarship Guide: The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) publishes an annual scholarship resource guide. It compiles a wide range of scholarships and fellowships to Latino students, regardless of immigration status.
Immigrants Rising Scholarship List: Immigrants Rising maintains an extensive list of scholarships and fellowships open to undocumented students across the U.S. Some scholarships are dedicated specifically to law students.
Community-Based Organizations for Immigrants
Legal Protections & Student Privacy
- Federal, state, and city laws protect students. Access to student records or campus requires one of the following: a judicial warrant, a legitimate safety concern, or student consent.
- Federal protections include FERPA, the Higher Education Act, and the Privacy Act.
- State protections include NYS Education Law, Executive Order 170, and the Green Light Law.
- NYC sanctuary laws restrict ICE presence on campus property or access to data without judicial authorization. If you encounter ICE on campus, stay calm, do not provide information, and contact Campus Public Safety (718-340-4270).
Health Care
Every New Yorker, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay, has the right to quality health care. This includes emergency care at any hospital in NYC. Find low- and no-cost City services for all immigrants or call 311.
Mental Health Services
Internal
The Office of Student Support and Wellness provides culturally responsive, trauma-informed, confidential mental health resources for students including the following:
- Individual counseling
- Crisis support
- Short-term therapy
- Referrals to community providers
- Workshops (executive functioning, stress management, etc.)
- Mental health programming
Contact Student Wellness at 718-340-4448 or studentwellness@law.cuny.edu.
External
The Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) is a FREE, CONFIDENTIAL service, available to attorneys, judges, law students and their family members, in New York City, who are struggling with alcohol or drug abuse, depression, anxiety and stress, as well as other addictions and mental health issues.
External Legal Resources
- CUNY Assistance Immigration Project team
- Consultation Request Form: Callback Request for Appointment
- Email: immigrationhelp@cuny.edu
- CUNY Citizenship Now!
- ACTIONNYC
- Backlog Immigration LLC
- ImmigrationLawHelp.org
- Immigrant Defense Project
- Know Your Rights Resources for Immigrant New Yorkers
- Northern Manhattan Coalition for Immigrant Rights
External Resource Guides for Immigrant & Undocumented Law Students
Required Testing Information for Future Lawyers
Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE)
- To become a practicing attorney, law students must take the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE), which tests the ethical rules attorneys must abide by. The MPRE is not administered by law schools, but rather it is administered by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE). The NCBE requires students to present two forms of original, unexpired ID: a government-issued primary ID and a secondary ID.
- The primary ID must be issued by the government and include your first and last name, recent recognizable photo, and signature. NCBE accepts passports, U.S. driver’s licenses, or other similar state identification cards as a primary ID. Under these requirements, the New York City ID should qualify as a primary form of ID. For undocumented students who do not have a qualifying ID issued in the US, the primary ID must be an international passport from your country of citizenship and be printed in roman characters.
- The secondary ID must include at least a first and last name and signature, or first and last name and recent recognizable photo. NCBE has commonly accepted the following forms of secondary ID: university/college ID, credit card, and library card. Students must also make sure that the first and last name on their MPRE registration matches exactly the first and last name on both of the IDs presented on test day.
- If you cannot meet these ID requirements, you can request an exception. These exceptions must be submitted through the Contact Us page on NCBE’s website at least seven business days before your scheduled test date.
Bar Examination
- As the bar examination is administered by each state, the ID requirements vary across states. In New York, students must present a valid government-issued ID. All non-U.S. citizens who do not possess a driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or territory must present a valid passport for identification. The NY State ID will not serve as a valid form of ID.
Immigrant & Undocumented Student Liaison Contact Information
Ericka Parra Ramirez and Anna Sherman serve as immigrant/undocumented student liaisons for the CUNY School of Law. Please contact Ericka or Anna with any questions or if you need support.
- Ericka Parra Ramirez, 718-340-4402, ericka.parraramirez@law.cuny.edu
- Anna Sherman, 718-340-4468, anna.sherman@law.cuny.edu