First-Generation Law Students
Who is First-Gen?
As defined by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) (2024), first-generation college students are defined as graduates who do not have at least one parent or guardian with a bachelor's degree or higher degree.
Continuing-generation college students are graduates who have at least one parent or guardian with a bachelor's degree or higher, but whose parents/guardians all lack a JD degree.
Continuing-generation JD graduates have at least one parent or guardian with a JD degree.
This page is curated for law students who identify as first-generation college students. All law students are welcome to review, learn from, and utilize the information here.
Articles
Student Lawyer: What it means to thrive as a first-generation law student (ABA: Garcia, 2020)
Helping First-Generation Lawyers Thrive (Law Practice Today ABA: Cleveland, 2018)
Welcome to Law School, First Generation Students (Above the Law: Molina and LawProfBlawg, 2019)
Finding Your Unique Place in Law Practice is a Reflective Journey (Bloomberg Law: Brittany Johnson, 2023)
Podcast (In the works...)
The Career Center is working to launch a podcast mini-series that discusses common legal career topics through the lens of a first-gen student. Stay tuned for an announcement of when this will be available!
First-Gen Listserv
Sign up for the First-Generation Law Student listserv here
