2025-2026 Legal Literacy Academy Application

Defying Legal Gravity's Summer Academy is a rigorous program where college-aged students spend two weeks obtaining a foundation in the law. Classes run Monday-Thursday, from 9:30am-4:30pm, beginning on July 21, 2025 and continuing through August 7, 2025 at Fordham University School of Law near Columbus Circle.

Program fees are on a sliding scale from $250-$750. If you are unable to pay the program fees, and would like to be considered for a scholarship opportunity, please contact us [email protected], Subject Line: Legal Literacy Academy Scholarship.

Applicant Information

Pronouns

She/her/hers

Non-Binary/3rd Gender

Prefer not to answer

What Languages Do You Speak?

Please fill this out based on your family's 2024 taxes/household income

Household Income

0-$25,000

How many people live in your household?

What school or university do you currently attend?

What grade will you be in during the next (2025-2026) school year?

Freshman

Current GPA? (Please note, although we keep track of GPA, DLG does not take GPA into account when deciding on applicants)

Do you intend to apply to law school?

Yes

If Other, please explain below

Will you be the first in your family to graduate from college?

Yes

Untitled checkboxes field

Yes

Are you involved in extracurricular activities at school? If yes, please list them.

Yes

Untitled checkboxes field

Yes

Application Questions

Why do you want to participate in the Summer Academy?

What draws you to learn the law and what do you hope to do with that knowledge?

Do you think the law positively or negatively impacts your community? Why?

Finish this sentence: "If I knew the law, I would..."

How would you rate your current legal knowledge on a scale of 0–10?

How would you rate your community's current legal knowledge on a scale of 0–10?

Have you or anyone in your family had interactions with the legal system? If yes, please explain.

Yes

*Defying Legal Gravity gives special consideration to students who have first-hand experiences with the legal system.

Are there any lawyers in your family?

Yes