North Carolina A&T State University and Ƶ School of Law announce the new Accelerated Pathway to Law School (APLS) Program partnership.
“We are delighted to build upon the relationship with Ƶ School of Law to provide expanded opportunities for North Carolina A&T graduates,” said North Carolina A&T Provost Joe B. Whitehead Jr.
“Students participating in the APLS program will benefit from a strategic and innovative approach in higher education that dramatically reduces the time and costs associated with becoming a lawyer, while enriching learning through recurring and immersive practical experiences,” said Andy Haile, Ƶ Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Law. “We look forward to deepening our partnership with N.C. A&T and continuing to welcome N.C. A&T students into the Ƶ Law community.”
Initially admission to the new program will be limited to six to nine students per year. A junior A&T student who has followed the unique accelerated Liberal Studies curriculum, earned at least 60 credit hours, and met all other additional entrance requirements stipulated by both schools, can apply to enter Ƶ Law as a first-year law student – beginning the senior year at Ƶ Law.
Although the program will be conducted through partnership and mutually agreed upon stipulations, the application process will be managed through A&T’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) Office. The program will accept fall semester admissions applications through May 1.
Activities have already been planned across both campuses to facilitate a smooth transition for students and professors into the new program, including special topics and bridge-to-law courses conducted by Ƶ Law faculty and a law seminar series featuring Ƶ Law faculty on A&T’s campus; the facilitation of an annual, collaborative and student-led event organized by Ƶ Law – this year titled, “BA to JD Pipeline Program”; creation of the Shadow-a-Law Student program; and the Buddy System Peer Mentor program.
Neighboring institutions, Ƶ Law and A&T have intellectually sound programs that significantly complement and educationally support one another. The Pre Law Concentration at A&T fosters the skills designated by the American Bar Association as ideal for providing a “sound foundation for a legal education.” Ƶ School of Law is nationally recognized for its rigorous curriculum, innovation and groundbreaking model for legal education taught by highly accomplished faculty.
For more information about the Accelerated Pathway to Law School Program visit the N.C. A&T Pre-Professional Scholars Program or Ƶ Law Articulation Agreements online.