Suffolk Law’s two-week Summer Pre-law Achievers Network (Achievers) is a part of Suffolk Law’s ongoing efforts to eliminate bias and enhance diversity in the legal profession and justice system by prioritizing educational and career pipelines to develop equity for all students in pursuit of a career in the legal field. The Achievers Program is free to attend and is designed to equip participants who come from diverse or nontraditional backgrounds with the tools they will need to prepare successful applications to law school and succeed once they are admitted.
Achievers take legal classes that mirror the 1L experience, get one-on-one application assistance from experienced admission officers, and meet practicing lawyers in and around the Boston area. Achievers also network with attorneys who are using their law degrees to pursue work in diverse fields, both within and outside of the legal profession, such as judges, prosecutors, criminal defense lawyers, in-house lawyers at Fortune 500 companies, public interest lawyers, government lawyers, small business owners, sports agents, and real estate developers.
The focus of this in-person, two-week program is to:
- Introduce Achievers to the law school experience
- Develop personal and professional skills and confidence to prepare for law school
- Create networking opportunities with lawyers who work in a range of fields
- Build a strong law school application, including creating and finalizing your resume, drafting your personal and diversity statements, and discussing the timing for taking the LSAT, JD-Next, or GRE
Eligibility
This program was primarily developed to serve students from diverse and nontraditional backgrounds, including, but not limited to first-generation college students, low income, or members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession. Students must either be enrolled in a four-year college or university program that leads to a bachelor’s degree, or already have their bachelor’s degree, and be on track to enroll in law school in 2026 or 2027. Students must also hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Key Details
Program Dates
- All programming will be in-person at Suffolk Law in Boston
- The 2025 program will run from June 2 - June 13
- Most programming will be held 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. however additional events may be held after 5 p.m. on a few nights
- No formal programming will be scheduled on Saturday, June 8 or Sunday, June 9
Deadline to Apply
Applications should be submitted and complete by March 1 for consideration. Any application received or completed after March 1 will be considered if space is available.
Upcoming Info Sessions
Please join us for an upcoming virtual info session to learn more about the program and application.
Curriculum
Mini 1L Courses
Achievers will participate in two “mini-courses” taught by Suffolk Law professors that introduce the law school environment and first-year subjects. Students will attend approximately 30 total hours of academic classes during the two-week program. One class will be in a 1L doctrinal subject, for example torts or criminal law. The second will be a legal writing class. Faculty will design the courses to be engaging, interactive, and relevant. For example, in a criminal law class, the professor might start a class discussion about a legal matter frequently referenced on social media or refer to Supreme Court cases that were recently in the news.
The Achievers mini-courses are not for credit. We do not expect participants to learn in two weeks what law school students learn in a full semester. However, Achievers will learn skills and content in these classes designed to help them succeed in law school.
Extracurricular Activities
Guest speakers and seminars will supplement the mini-courses to expand participants’ understanding of the law and provide examples of how attorneys use their skills and knowledge in various legal arenas. For example, students may attend a workshop on developing legal apps to help people without lawyers avoid evictions. Participants will visit Massachusetts courts and meet members of Boston’s legal community.
Intensive Application Workshop
Students will join an interactive application workshop led by the Suffolk Law Office of Admission. Veteran admission officers will lead interactive classes about law school applications, drafting your personal statement and addenda, and reviewing the applications of students. Students will also receive one-on-one application guidance from law school faculty and admission officers.
How to Apply
In addition to the online application, you also will need to submit via email:
- A resume
- Your most recent undergraduate unofficial transcript (in PDF form)
- A writing sample
- A document that showcases your best writing skills (which may be a class assignment in which a grade of B or better was received)
- A personal statement that explains your answers to two questions:
- Why are you interested in becoming a lawyer?
- How do you think this program will help you achieve your career goals?
- At least one (1) letter of recommendation (no more than 3)
All letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the Law Admission Office from the professional work email address of the recommenders
Please submit these documents after you submit your application with us. The subject of your emails should indicate you are applying to the Achievers Program, for example: Jane Doe - Achievers Resume and Personal Statement.
Your application is not considered complete until all parts are received by the Admission Office.
Questions?
Contact the Office of Law Admission by email with any additional questions.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Suffolk University Law School would like to thank the following Achievers sponsors without whose support the program would not be possible:
