Pre-Law Events

Pre-law events are open to all students who are interested in exploring the field of law, considering law school, and/or actively engaged in the law school application process. Unsure which events make sense for you? Contact the Pre-Law Program to learn more.

Pre-Law Orientation

Thursday, 9/12 4p.m. in Sun Room I (Campion 203)

Learn about the Pre-Law Program at SJU, meet the Faculty Pre-Law Advisor, get some tips to prepare yourself for law school, and meet your peers who are interested in law school! We will have some fun activities and lots of useful information!

Personal Statement Workshop

Thursday, 9/19 4p.m. in Sun Room II (Campion 204)

Are you planning to apply to law school this fall? This workshop will give you the tools to create a strong personal statement. We will go over how a personal statement can strengthen your application and what law schools are looking for in a personal statement. You will also have an opportunity to work on a draft of a personal statement.

Dine with Hawks

Students must be registered with the Pre-Law Program to receive email invitations to upcoming dinners.

Pre-law students regularly engage with our law alumni in a small group setting for dinner. This is an opportunity for students to get to know our alumni and ask questions related to both law school and life as a lawyer.

Fall 2024 Events

Sydney Montgomery. J.D.

Thursday, 9/5 5 p.m. in the Center for Inclusion and Diversity (210 Campion Student Center)

Sydney is the Founder and Executive Director of Barrier Breakers. She was born to Jamaican immigrants in a military family, was the first in her family to attend Princeton U and Harvard Law School, and was named to Forbes 30 Under 30. She has since founded Barrier Breakers, a non-profit that has helped over 7,000 first-generation and other marginalized students apply to law school. Sydney will be talking about her journey to law school and providing insights into the law school application process.

Constitution Day Event with Shelley R. Smith, Esq

Tuesday, 9/17 5 p.m. in the Cardinal Foley Center

"The 14th Amendment....Promise v. Practice." Shelley is Archer’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer and a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation and Labor and Employment Groups. She is a frequent speaker and writer about diversity and the related constitutional
issues. 

Hon. Ketanji Brown-Jackson visits Philly!

Saturday, 9/28 5 p.m. @ Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (East), 2800 West Cheltenham Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19150

(Tickets Required - purchase here)

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown-Jackson will be speaking about her new memoir, Lovely One, as part of the bookstore Uncle Bobbie's speaker series. Justice Brown-Jackson is the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court and is an important figure in our judicial system. There is a place on the ticket site to submit questions to ask her. While this is not an official SJU Pre-Law event, I strongly encourage you to attend! If you plan to attend, please let Dr. Patterson know. There may be an opportunity for SJU to provide transportation if there is enough interest.

LSAT Prep Award

This year there will be twenty-five (25) $400 SJU Law Alumni Endowment LSAT Prep Awards for students and alumni who are preparing to take the LSAT in 2024. Students who complete the no-cost Khan Academy course may use this award to offset the cost of supplemental tutoring sessions. The $400 will be sent to the awardee after the course is completed. If you have financial need that may require receiving your award earlier OR you need additional assistance, please contact Dr. Paul Patterson (ppatters@sju.edu) to discuss your situation.

Career Conversations

Register for your SJU Connects account and schedule career conversations with alumni working in the law and/or in related fields of interest.

Wildcat Webinars

Pre-recorded webinars from Villanova Law. A series of live special topic presetation and Q&As with law professors and students. Each was moderated by the Office of Admission providing insight on a number of topics related to the academic offerings and the Villanova Law experience. You can check out all of the webinars here!

The Joseph William and Madeline Eberle Klein Series supports educational events directed toward greater inclusion in the Roman Catholic Church for those groups of persons currently disaffected from it.

The Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Center for Business Ethics provides events and programs for students to engage in careful, sustained and critical reflection on ethical issues and to use that reflection in their business decision-making.