Your Journey to the Bar: Fordham Pre-Law Intensive

June 21-July 1, 2027 Rose Hill

The purpose of the Pre-Law Intensive is to introduce high school students to the legal profession. Students will gain a broader understanding of what being a lawyer entails; how to become a lawyer, including Law School Admissions, undergraduate coursework, LSATs, and internships; and the diverse career opportunities for lawyers. Upon completion, students should have greater self-awareness regarding their interest in pursuing a legal career or obtaining a law degree along with clear steps on how to achieve these goals. Derived particularly from Fordham’s Jesuit tradition of magis or “men and women for others,” students will achieve a holistic understanding of legal ethics and Law’s significance in shaping our society.

Skills/Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Plan an academic path from high school to college and summer internships for future law school applications. 
  • Identify the diverse possible career paths in Law.
  • Understand the basics of reading a legal case and writing a legal document/memo.
  • Engage in legal research.
  • Put together an argument for a mock trial.
  • Answer LSAT questions.
  • Participate in a Socratic-style Law class.

Overall Takeaways

Students will benefit by learning the process of becoming a lawyer from undergraduate academic programs to graduating from Law school; working and networking with esteemed legal professionals to gain more clarity on their career path. Students will also have a better understanding of how Law functions in society.

Instructor Bio

Star Jimenez, Esq., currently served as the Interim Pre-Law Advisor at Fordham University and is currently the Associate Director for Course Scheduling and Office Management. In these roles, she supports students in navigating the law school admissions process while overseeing key academic operations. She also has experience working with housing compliance regulations and insurance law, bringing practical legal insight to both advising and administrative work. Star Jimenez earned an undergraduate degree from New York University and a Juris Doctor from Pace Law School.

Course Schedule

Class 1: Monday 

I. Introduction to the legal system
II. Overview of Legal Careers
III. Introduction to legal terminology

Structure of the U.S Court System (brief introduction to Constitutional Law and New York Court Systems)

Class 2: Tuesday 

I. What to look for in college; what kind of course work to pursue; positioning yourself for college
II. Example of a college class, political science as a major

Class 3: Wednesday

I. Careers in Law, overview
II. Fordham Career Services Office
III. Legal reasoning and argumentation
IV. LSAT-style logical reasoning exercises

Class 4: Thursday

I. Legal research and writing
II. Starting to explore a case
III. How to brief a case

Class 5: Friday

I. Legal research fundamentals
II. Writing a legal memo

Class 6: Monday

I. Practice areas of law (criminal, corporate, civil rights, etc.)
II. Guest speaker session TBA
III. Introduction to mock trial
IV. Case assignment and team formation

Class 7: Tuesday

I. College preparation for pre-law students
II. Law school admissions overview

Class 8: Wednesday

I. Visit to Fordham Law/ Law Student Panel
II. Mock trial preparation

Advanced case analysis

Class 9: Thursday

I. Final Mock Trial Presentation
II. Course Reflection and Feedback

    • Introduction to practice areas and practice settings 
    • Law student panel
    • Logic problems/LSAT Prep
    • Careers in Law, overview 
    • Fordham Career Services Office 
    • How to read a case
    • Career exploration exercises
    • Mock Trial Instruction: Fordham Law Coach
    • Fordham Law alums
    • Law Professor
    • Hot Topics in Law: AI, Privacy Law, Entertainment Law
    • What to look for in college; what kind of course work to pursue; positioning yourself for college
    • Example of a college class, political science as a major
    • Fordham Law School Day at Lincoln Center
    • Law School Admissions 
    • Visit a firm or Law alumni
    • Legal research and writing
    • Starting to explore a case
    • How to brief a case
    • Fordham Law School Day 2 - Lincoln Center
    • Law Career Services
    • Salaries in law
    • Mock Trial

Course Details

Your Journey to the Bar: Fordham Pre-Law Intensive
June 21- July 1, 2027
9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Rose Hill campus
Instructor: Jimenez, Star

Course Number: SULA 0170 RT1
CRN: 16488

This non-credit course is open to high school students only.

Tuition

Residential: $4,332.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for the residential program includes the course, course materials, housing, meals, and excursions in and outside of class. Move-in is Sunday afternoon, the day before classes begin. Please click here for a more detailed calendar of important dates.

Commuter: $3,125.00 (2026 rate; 2027 prices will be available in December)
Tuition for commuters includes the course, course materials, lunches, and excursions in and outside of class. Additional meals are available on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Students may wish to bring funds for incidentals, shopping at the Fordham Bookstore, souvenirs, and any personal items they wish to purchase.

Apply

Application deadlines:

Course and housing: The deadlines for 2027 will be posted by December 2026. Please note that admission decisions are rolling until the class is full, and course caps are around 20 students. The deadline to be considered for a limited number of need-based discounts is April 1. We recommend early application.

Application Requirements: this non-credit course is open to high school students who have completed their first year. The course is recommended for those with a 3.0 or better. No prior experience with the subject matter is required.

To apply, you will need a copy of your high school transcript and your fall report card if the grades are not reflected on your transcript.

Please make note of the course details above because you will select your course as part of your application.

There is a $75 fee to apply and a $300 deposit to secure your seat. Housing requires a $50 deposit. All payments will be treated as deposits toward your final bill.

2027 applications will open in late November. Please sign up to stay informed about the Fordham Summer Leaders Academy, or email us with questions!

Immersion 1 Resident Move-In/Move-Out

Date  Resident Information
May 29 All medical forms and consents due
Sunday, June 20 Move-in between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 26 Move-out between 6 and 9 p.m., One-Week students
Friday, July 2 Move-out by 10 a.m., Two-week students
   

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