Law Day
2026 Law Day Program
Welcome to Law Day at John Jay!
Law Day is one of John Jay College’s signature events. Hosted by our transformational Pre-Law Institute (PLI), it is an exciting opportunity for students and alumni to explore the law school application process, strategize for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT),
and network with professionals in the law.
For over 20 years, PLI has deepened John Jay College’s footprint as one of the premiere undergraduate institutions fueling access and opportunity in the legal profession. In addition to Law Day, PLI offers over 90 academic skill-building programs and professional development initiatives per year, including a Pre-Law Scholars Program, judicial internships and clinics, a free summer LSAT prep program, law school and law firm visits, a speakers’ series, and much more.
Being ranked the 5th largest producer of Black/African American applicants to law school in the U.S. and 15th largest producer of Hispanic/Latino applicants by the LSAC in the 2024-2025 application cycle, John Jay College is at the forefront of architecting a bar and a bench that will empower and enrich the workforce through the lens of justice. Even more inspiring, our students and alumni have been admitted to 157 law schools in the past 7 years, and last year, 134 were accepted into one or more law schools!
I want to express our immense gratitude to the Samuel and Anna Jacobs Foundation, Inc. and all of our philanthropic partners for their unwavering commitment to student success at this dynamic institution and for making Law Day possible. I urge all students and alumni to take full advantage of the resources available throughout this impactful day.
With appreciation,
President
Schedule of Events: Morning
9:45 a.m.
Registration Opens
New Building (NB), Atrium
524 West 59th Street
10:15–11:15 a.m.
Morning Concurrent Sessions
(4 sessions are offered during this time. Please choose one session to attend.)
Session 1 - Law Student Panel
NB, L.63
John Jay alumni who are currently attending law school will discuss the law school experience and share advice and suggestions for those who are preparing to apply to law school.
Moderator: Elizabeth Broccoli
Director, Pre-Law Institute
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Panelists
Kimberly Paredes ‘22
CUNY School of Law
Maya Taraf ‘24
New York Law School
Deborah Omolola ‘25
Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University
Session 2 - Proskauer Lawyering for Social Justice Workshop
NB, L.61
Learn about the pro bono work of Proskauer, LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City.
Moderator: William C. Silverman
Pro Bono Partner, Proskauer
Panelists
Aaliyah Brown
Proskauer
Mary McNicholas
Proskauer
Peter Luu
Proskauer
Stephanie McIntyre
Proskauer
Session 3 - Writing a Law School Personal Statement
NB, 1.65
This workshop will discuss ideas and strategies for writing your law school personal statement.
Speaker: Victoria Bond
Lecturer, English Department and
Personal Statement Advisor
Pre-Law Institute
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Session 4 - LSAT Success Strategies
NB, 1.63
This workshop will introduce attendees to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and will provide an interactive session on best test-taking practices. Please note that this session will be repeated in the afternoon.
Speaker: Carolyn Nelson
Founder and President
Nelson Test Prep and Pipeline to Justice Instructor
CUNY School of Law
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Plenary Session
Law School Admissions Panel
NB, L.63
This panel will focus on law school admission requirements, including the importance of the LSAT, GPA, recommendations, personal statements, and admission deadlines.
Moderator: Adrienne FitzGerald
Student Support Manager
John Jay College Honors Program
Panelists
Jeremy Ashton
Assistant Director of Admission
Brooklyn Law School
Pop Little
Assistant Dean of Admissions, Rutgers Law School
Jeanne Estilo Widerka
Associate Dean of Admissions
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
Schedule of Events: Afternoon
12:45–2:00 p.m.
Luncheon (Advance registration required)
Student Dining Hall
President Karol V. Mason and Carlos Mejia ’26
in conversation with
Hon. Raymond P. Fernandez ‘08
Judge of the Court of Claims
Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, Bronx County
(See the Hon. Raymond P. Fernandez bio below)
John Jay College of Criminal Justice would like to thank the Samuel and Anna Jacobs Foundation for its generous support of the Law Day Luncheon.
2:15–3:45 p.m.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions
(3 sessions are offered during this time. Please choose one session to attend.)
Session 1: A View from the Bench: Judicial Panel
NB, L.63
This panel focuses on the origin stories, insights and reflections of some of the distinguished jurists who have partnered with the John Jay Pre-Law Institute Judicial Internship Program.
Moderator: Jerylle M. Kemp
Associate Director for Outreach and Engagement
Pre-Law Institute and Center for Post-Graduate Opportunities
Panelists
Hon. Wilma Guzman
Justice of New York Supreme Court, Civil Term, Twelfth Judicial District
Hon. Raymond Bruce
Justice of New York Supreme Court, Criminal Term, First Judicial District
Hon. Ingrid Joseph
Justice of New York Supreme Court, Civil Term, Second Judicial District
Hon. James G. Clynes
Justice of New York Supreme Court, Civil Term, First Judicial District
Session 2 - LSAT: Success Strategies
NB, 1.63
This workshop will introduce attendees to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and will provide an interactive session on best test-taking practices. Please note that this session is a repeat of the session offered during the morning.
Speaker: Carolyn Nelson
Founder and President, Nelson Test Prep and Pipeline to Justice Instructor, CUNY School of Law
Session 3 - Mock Law School Class
NB, L.61
This workshop will explore the law school classroom experience.
Speaker: Charles Robert Davidson
Director, Center for Post-Graduate Opportunities
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Raymond P. Fernandez ‘08
The Honorable Raymond P. Fernandez ’08 is currently a Judge of the Court of Claims and Acting Supreme Court Justice for the Supreme Court, Bronx County Civil Term. His responsibilities include supervising discovery in a vast range of cases.
Before ascending to the bench, Judge Fernandez served as the Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Doris M. Gonzalez and honed his litigation skills at prominent law firms, focusing on complex matters such as toxic torts and personal injury claims. He served as the Principal Law Clerk to Hon. Norma Ruiz, and the Senior Law Clerk to Hon. Jenny Rivera. He began his career as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society, serving in the Queens Criminal Defense Practice. Educated at the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law, Judge Fernandez received notable scholarships for his academic excellence.
Beyond his professional duties, Judge Fernandez is an active member of several bar associations and serves on the John Jay College Foundation Board of Trustees. He has been recognized for his outstanding service to the legal community and was honored by the John Jay College Alumni Association with the 2025 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
John Jay College educates fierce advocates for justice, a calling that demands robust debate, rigorous inquiry, and respectful dissent. Consistent with this commitment, we support academic freedom and convene conversations reflecting multiple perspectives. The views expressed at events held at John Jay belong to the speaker(s) and do not represent the opinion of the college. See https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/legal-and-ethical-guidance-political-activities-and-equal-access for more information.