The Esmeralda Simmons Pre-Law Preparatory Program
“A lawyer is either a social engineer or a parasite on society.” — Charles Hamilton Houston, Esq.
The Esmeralda Simmons Pre-Law Preparatory Program is a landmark initiative of the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, designed to build a strong and diverse pipeline of future attorneys committed to civil rights, racial justice, and community-centered advocacy. Rooted in the legacy of CLSJ founder Esmeralda Simmons, Esq., and inspired by trailblazers like Charles Hamilton Houston, Pauli Murray, Thurgood Marshall, and Constance Baker Motley, this program prepares emerging legal scholars to follow in the footsteps of the movement’s most influential social engineers.
For nearly four decades, CLSJ has advanced racial equity, protected voting rights, strengthened civic engagement, and empowered our communities through legal advocacy and public education. The Pre-Law Preparatory Program extends this mission by equipping aspiring attorneys with the academic preparation, skills, mentorship, and—most importantly—the historical grounding necessary to enter the legal profession with purpose and confidence.
What the Program Provides
Rigorous Academic Preparation
Participants will receive LSAT instruction, legal writing training, and workshops to build the foundational skills required for success in law school.
Mentorship and Professional Exposure
Students will engage with practicing attorneys, legal scholars, and advocates who model the role of the lawyer as a community servant, strategist, and justice architect.
Movement-Centered Legal Framework
The program introduces students to civil rights lawyering traditions and provides a deep understanding of how law has been—and continues to be—a tool for dismantling inequality.
Leadership Development for Social Justice
By grounding students in the history and strategies of civil rights advocacy, the program prepares a new generation of legal leaders capable of designing the next phase of the civil rights struggle.
A Legacy of Justice, A Pipeline for the Future
The Esmeralda Simmons Pre-Law Preparatory Program reflects CLSJ’s commitment to creating pathways for first-generation, underrepresented, and justice-driven students to join the legal field. By cultivating future attorneys who understand the lived realities and legal needs of their communities, CLSJ is investing in long-term systems change and the sustained protection of civil and human rights.
The next generation of civil rights lawyers begins here—trained, grounded, and ready to advance justice.
To apply:
Click this link to access the application: Esmeralda Simmons Pre-Law Preparatory Program Application: https://form.jotform.com/