About Us


​The award-winning CUNY JJC Rising Scholars of Justice Pipeline Program (JJC RSJ) was founded in 2004 by Jodie G. Roure, JD, PhD, Associate Professor and is housed in the Department of Latin American and Latinx Studies (LLS) at John Jay College.

Our pre-law pipeline program, focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, targets first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students, guiding them towards successful enrollment in law school and graduate programs. We achieve this by identifying these students during their college years, offering early exposure to the legal field, and providing comprehensive year-long support. In collaboration with the University of Houston Law Center and other law schools nationwide, we simulate the law school experience and offer intensive LSAT preparation during the summer.

Overview of the Program

John Jay College (JJC) RSJ offers year-round support and development for its scholars through experiential learning opportunities, advising, counseling, and mentoring:
§  Experiential Learning: During the academic year, John Jay College (JJC) students will be enrolled in experiential learning-focused courses (like LLS 280, 321, or 401), earning up to 10 academic credits.
§  Resources: Students can access Latin American and Latinx Studies’ student-centric resources like its conference room, classrooms, and computers for teaching and studying.
§  Academic Support: Our Pre-Law Team offers monthly meetings and individual and personalized academic support.
§  Mentoring: We host an educational speaker series featuring outside scholars who help students connect to non-college and community-based opportunities, such as legal internships and social justice research projects on national and international human rights issues.
The summer portion of JJC RSJ is available either online or as an in-person on-campus offering. The number of completed college credits students have acquired determines student placement in one of the following cohorts:
  • Scholar I (completed at least 50 college credits)
    • Dive into real-world legal courses in many different areas of the law.
    • Skill development, trial advocacy, and legal internships.
    • Gain valuable experience through a legal internship aligned with your interests.
    • Work with helpful mentors.
  • Scholar II (completed at least 75 college credits)
    • Embark on in-person LSAT diagnostics and classes.
    • Craft a strong law school application.
    • Engage in diverse workshops geared towards law school readiness and success.
    • Engage in legal internships
    • Work with mentors to prepare for your LSAT and develop your statement for law school applications.​

Expected Program Outcomes

​The JJC RSJ expected academic outcomes for its scholars include:
1.       Graduation within four years (unless in a BA/MA joint degree program).
2.       LSAT preparation, August examination, and application to at least 5 law schools.
3.       Overall GPA improvement throughout the program.
4.       Gaining legal internship experience for enhanced legal knowledge.
5.       Closing gaps in reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.
6.       Individualized LSAT retake support during summer supervised by program alumni.