Northwestern Pritzker Law Empowers Future Legal Minds with 2025 Summer Pre-Law Academy

The halls of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law buzzed with energy in May as the inaugural Northwestern Summer Pre-Law Academy (the Academy) brought together a select cohort of aspiring legal minds from across the country. Held from May 19–23, the immersive five-day program opened the doors of legal education to students who have traditionally faced barriers to the profession, including first-generation college students, veterans, and individuals from low-income backgrounds and rural communities. Out of 60 applicants from across the country, 20 students were chosen via a rigorous merit- and leadership-based selection process to participate in the program.

Designed to simulate the rigor and rhythm of a true law school experience, the Academy introduced participants to the foundational elements of a legal education. Through multi-day, multi-session courses in Torts, Constitutional Law, Legal Ethics, and Legal Writing, students engaged directly with Northwestern Pritzker Law faculty, tackled real legal cases such as Vosburg v. Putney and Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer, and learned how to read judicial opinions like true first-year law students. Participants developed strong connections with professors and received substantive feedback on their writing throughout the week.

“The program aimed to demystify law school and create genuine access,” says Emily Kadens, Vice Dean and Edna B. and Ednyfed H Williams Memorial Professor of Law, who played a key role in the program’s curriculum design. “Through the Academy, we didn’t just tell students about law school—we gave them a true simulation, ‘boot-camp’ experience of what it is like to be a first-year student.”

Kadens adds, “The vast majority of first-year students — no matter the school — express feeling lost and confused during their initial time in law school. While those who enter law school from varying backgrounds and experience especially share these sentiments, graduates of this program are now actually ahead of the curve and equipped with vital resources needed to succeed.”

During the weeklong program, participants also received expert guidance on LSAT preparation and developed tools on financing a legal education. The small class size provided students personalized attention and close interaction with faculty, current law students, practicing attorneys, and a federal judge. During a court visit, participants even had the opportunity to observe direct and cross examinations as part of a jury trial for a bank robbery.

A differentiating component of the Summer Pre-Law Academy, each participant was also paired with an alumni mentor with the goal of fostering an enduring mentor-mentee relationship even after the conclusion of the Academy. Students had the opportunity to engage with alumni panelists representing different legal professions and practice areas, including in-house attorneys, law firm attorneys, public interest attorneys, and government attorneys.

“[During the week], we visited leading legal institutions such as Mayer Brown LLP, the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law—each visit offering firsthand insight into the legal profession and its culture,” says academy participant Elizabeth Martinez. “As a first-generation aspiring law student, this program was both affirming and empowering. It reminded me that being first-gen is not a setback, but a strength—one that brings unique perspective, resilience, and purpose to the legal field.”

Academy participant Redeate Teshome adds, “Going into the program, I wanted to learn more about law school, explore Northwestern, and connect with inspiring individuals. Coming out of it, I’ve gained all that and more. I now carry a renewed sense of peace in my calling to enter the legal profession and a special confidence that I can succeed. It was a truly transformative week at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”

The program left a positive impression on the students and faculty alike.

“The Summer Pre-Law Academy experience exceeded my expectations,” says Meredith Geller, Clinical Professor of Law and Director of the Writing Lab at Northwestern Pritzker Law. “Students engaged with the material in meaningful ways and made arguments that would fit perfectly in a 1L classroom. I was honored to be able to be a part of their journey to law school.”

Paving a Pathway to the Legal Profession

The Summer Pre-Law Academy program was created as part of a much larger initiative of Northwestern Pritzker Law to increase pathways to the legal profession for those who might not otherwise have access to it. Samantha Kwok-Ting Woo, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Access, has been instrumental in developing programs designed to accomplish that goal.

“Law school should be accessible everyone, not just those who’ve always had the roadmap. Initiatives like the Academy gives students the map and the support to follow it,” Woo says.

In her role as Associate Dean, Woo oversees the Office of Community Engagement and Access, which seeks to foster a welcoming and supportive community where all students, staff, faculty, and alumni feel a sense of belonging, while also maintaining an intellectually rigorous environment in which myriad viewpoints are explored, shared, and debated. In so doing, the office develops and implements strategic community engagement initiatives that bring together community members with different life experiences, perspectives, and expertise. The office also works to expand access to the legal profession and advocates on behalf of individuals who may need additional support meeting the challenges of navigating law school and entering the field of law. Throughout the year, the office hosts a wide variety of pre-law programming that engages grade school, high school, college, and post-college students from the City of Chicago and across the country who may have more limited access to information and resources relating to the legal profession. Through outreach targeted to every phase of law school and career — from applying for admission to joining alumni networks — the Office of Community Engagement and Access develops, supports, and maintains the interrelationships that foster student achievement and produce satisfied graduates.

“We have programs for students at all stages in their education and career discernment process as we help them begin to think about who they are and what they want to be,” she says. “With our current students, it’s about ensuring they have a sense of belonging and community — providing support to help all students feel successful, both during their time in law school and when they leave here.”

As law schools across the country continue to expand access and reach to all students interested in careers in law, programs like Northwestern’s Summer Pre-Law Academy help pave a path forward.

“We wanted to create a small, highly personal program that focused on preparing students to attend a Top 20 Law School,” Kadens says. “We sought out veterans, first-generation college students, and students from low-income and rural backgrounds who might otherwise not feel that they belong at elite law schools.”

To recruit and identify such an extraordinary inaugural cohort, Kadens and Woo put the word out to area pre-law advisors. Additionally, they worked with organizations such as the STARS Network, which helps rural students find pathways to higher education; the Warrior Scholar Project, which helps enlisted military personnel enter college; Hope Chicago and Chicago Scholars, which support Chicago Public School graduates; and others.

“We were specifically looking for high-achieving students with leadership potential who would both benefit from participating in the Academy and contribute something of themselves to it as well,” Woo says.

Both Woo and Kadens noted that the Summer Pre-Law Academy exceeded all expectations and outcomes, and they look forward to building on the program’s success in years to come.