Created by Joel Rudin ’78 and fellow alumni, the PREP Scholarship Fund at NYU Law (named for the Prison Reform and Eduction Project) provides scholarships to students who have been directly impacted by their involvement with the criminal legal system, either through their own experience or that of a parent. It aims to encourage formerly incarcerated individuals—or those with a formerly or currently incarcerated parent—to apply to the Law School by making their attendance more financially feasible.
Despite the progress of the movement against mass incarceration and increased awareness of its devastating consequences, there remain few lawyers who have served criminal sentences. Promising students who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system face unique hurdles, which can include discrimination in admissions and hiring, barriers to accessing financial aid, and obstacles in gaining entry to the bar. We are striving to change the status quo of discrimination in higher education and the legal field. The PREP Scholarship Fund represents NYU’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and will play an important role in providing the kind of access and support necessary for success.
There is no separate application process for the PREP Scholarship. Prospective students should apply to NYU Law directly and the Admissions Office will identify eligible students after they have been admitted.
If you would like to donate to the PREP Scholarship Fund, please use one of the following methods:
Online - To make a one-time gift, please visit http://www.law.nyu.edu/giving where you can make a donation using your credit card. Select the “other designation” category and enter the words PREP Scholarship.
Mail - Checks may be made payable to NYU School of Law and sent to:
New York University School of Law
Office of Development and Alumni Relations 22 Washington Square North, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10011
Telephone - To make a gift over the phone, please call the NYU Law Office of Development at 212-998-6400.