Pre-Law Institute
July 7 - August 5, 2025 (tentative)
The Fordham Law Pre-Law Institute is an online summer course designed to give undergraduate students and graduates insight into the law school experience, an introduction to foundational subjects in U.S. law, and an overview of the writing skills law students need to succeed. Classes are taught in the mornings, New York time.
Classes in this program are taught by members of the fulltime and adjunct faculty of Fordham Law School, who introduce the Socratic method of teaching common in legal education.
Sessions for the 2024 program included the following:
- The Art of Advocacy: Case Theory and Storytelling
- Criminal Law and Procedure
- Civil Procedure and Litigation
- Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Law
- Introduction to Corporate Law
- Introduction to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance)
- Introduction to the U.S. Legal System and Constitutional Law
- Issues in Equality
- Legislation/Regulation
- Legal Writing and Research
- Writing & Rhetoric
In addition, optional sessions prepare students for the law school admissions process and the first year of law school.
Participants may choose to receive 3 undergraduate credits or to take the course without credit at a reduced cost. This course is designed for those contemplating law school but all are welcome. Certificates of completion will be awarded to all who meet the attendance requirement.
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Who Can Register
The Pre-Law Institute is open to all undergraduate students, college graduates, and working professionals interested in U.S. law and/or contemplating law school. Participants can register for the Pre-Law Institute as a 3-credit undergraduate course or as a non-credit course.
Space is limited so early applications are encouraged.
Registering for Non-Credit
There are no specific academic requirements in order to register for this program as a non credit-earning participant. To participate in the non-credit course option, please apply and pay through this webpage operated by the Fordham Law School Office of International and Non-JD Programs.
The deadline for registration and full payment for non-credit participants is Friday, June 12, 2020. Participants are accepted to the program in the order in which complete registrations, including the deposit, are received.
To register for the non-credit program, please fill out the application form below. Please make payments via the links in the Cost and Payment tab.
Registration for 2025 will be available in early 2025.
Registering for Undergraduate Credit
Students interested in participating in the Pre-Law Institute for undergraduate credit can register and pay for the 3-credit course option through the Fordham University Summer Session webpage. The 3-credit course is offered as part of the Summer Session II curriculum under the course name IDIS 0100 V21 Fordham Pre-Law Institute.
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The costs below are for the 2024 session, and should be expected to change for 2025.
2024 Non-Credit Program Cost: $1,150
Tuition includes all instruction and electronic course materials. Please note that participants are accepted to the program in the order in which complete registrations, including the non-refundable deposit, are received.
To make a payment for the non-credit program, click here.
2024 3-Credit Program Cost: $3,150
Tuition for the for-credit program option must be paid through Fordham University Summer Session. Please visit the Summer Session webpage for more information on tuition and fees if you plan to participate in the 3-credit option for this program.
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Undergraduate students registering for the Pre-Law Institute for academic credit through the Fordham University Summer Session can request on-campus housing. Please visit the Summer Session webpage for more information about on-campus accommodations if you are participating in the for-credit option.
There is no housing available at Fordham University for non-credit participants in this program.
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In order to receive a certificate of completion for the Pre-Law Institute or course credit (for those who selected this option), participants must attend at least 80% of all class sessions. Attendance will be taken at the start of each class. Students who arrive late will not be counted as in attendance. Program sessions marked as "optional" are not included in this attendance policy.
Excuses may be granted for a missed class or late arrival if the participant provides a sufficient explanation in advance to the Pre-Law Institute Director, Cecilia Caldeira, at [email protected].
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Pre-Law Institute (non-credit option)
If you plan to participate in the Pre-Law Institute as a non-credit student, please use the contact information below for the Office of International and Non-JD Programs at Fordham Law School:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 212-636-7702Pre-Law Institute (3-credit option)
If you plan to receive academic credit for participation in the Pre-Law Institute, please use the contact information below the Fordham University Summer Session program:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 718-817-4665
"The best part of this course was being taught by law school professors. I had a real feeling of what law school entails by their diverse methods of teaching. Their stories were great, and they had fantastic advice for us. The course subject matters gave me clarity about the law and how law school teaches it.
That some of the law professors, to whom I reached out, also took the time to talk with me outside of class has left a lasting impression about the high quality of Fordham Law."
-John L.
Fordham College
Pre-Law Institute Participant 2016