LEAP - Touro Law Center - Touro College
LEAP - Touro Law Center - Touro College
LEAP - Touro Law Center - Touro College
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L.E.A.P.<br />
Legal Education Access Program<br />
TOURO LAW<br />
<strong>Touro</strong> <strong>College</strong> Jacob D. Fuchsberg <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong>
Message from<br />
the Director<br />
Dear Students,<br />
We invite all entering minority students to participate in<br />
L.E.A.P., a wonderful program that leads to a high level<br />
of success each year by minority students at <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
<strong>Center</strong>.<br />
L.E.A.P. is run by highly successful upper-division<br />
minority students who are deeply committed to<br />
providing you with the same opportunity for success that<br />
they received in their first year of law school.<br />
The crucial start is the L.E.A.P. Summer Program, which<br />
is held in the evening for four weeks prior to the<br />
beginning of the school year. During the summer<br />
program, you will learn exactly what you should do to<br />
prepare for class, prepare for law school exams, and excel<br />
in taking law school exams.<br />
Success in law school requires a different type of class<br />
preparation, exam preparation, and exam writing than<br />
undergraduate or graduate school, and you need to learn<br />
how to excel in law school from upper-division students<br />
who have excelled in law school. L.E.A.P. gives you this<br />
opportunity.<br />
L.E.A.P. is offered free of charge and participation is<br />
entirely voluntary. L.E.A.P. will lead you to success in<br />
law school.<br />
Cordially,<br />
“L.E.A.P will<br />
lead you to<br />
success in<br />
law school.”<br />
Douglas D. Scherer<br />
Professor of <strong>Law</strong><br />
Director, L.E.A.P. Program<br />
CONTACT INFORMATION<br />
L.E.A.P. Program Director<br />
Professor Doug Scherer<br />
(631) 761-7140 or<br />
dscherer@tourolaw.edu
“The L.E.A.P. program<br />
was an essential part of my<br />
first year transition into law<br />
school. It gave me an early<br />
appreciation of the<br />
discipline and work ethic it<br />
takes to excel in the first<br />
year. L.E.A.P. allowed<br />
me to forge early<br />
friendships with upper level<br />
students, and showed me<br />
what to expect during my<br />
first year.”<br />
- Edson A. Coley<br />
Class of 2012<br />
“L.E.A.P. is an amazing<br />
program. It is a very<br />
unique support system and<br />
provides minority students<br />
with resources and tools<br />
that otherwise might not<br />
have been available to<br />
them. The passion and<br />
zeal of Professor Scherer,<br />
Director of the L.E.A.P.<br />
program, and numerous<br />
voluntary TAs are beyond<br />
belief. It is truly a great<br />
experience to work with<br />
people whose main goal is<br />
for you to be successful.<br />
You will also meet friends<br />
who will be your greatest<br />
support throughout law<br />
school and after.”<br />
L.E.A.P.<br />
SUMMER PROGRAM<br />
The four week L.E.A.P. Summer Program provides<br />
participants with the basic knowledge and skills they need<br />
to excel in law school. The program runs in the evening<br />
for four weeks, with a different first year area of law<br />
covered each week. Students learn how to prepare for class<br />
by “briefing cases,” learn how to prepare “outlines” for<br />
each subject, and learn how to excel in law school exam<br />
taking.<br />
On Monday through Wednesday of each week, there is a<br />
class taught like a typical law school class by a member of<br />
the summer program faculty. After each lecture,<br />
participants break into smaller groups and discuss the class<br />
materials with upper-division L.E.A.P. Teaching Assistants.<br />
The Teaching Assistants show participants how to<br />
determine which aspects of the lecture and class discussion<br />
are important for the exam, and show them how to include<br />
in their outlines the principles of law they must know for<br />
the exam.<br />
During the first week, there are lectures on exam writing.<br />
On Thursday of each week, participants take a simulated<br />
law school exam in the subject area for that week. On the<br />
following Monday, they are given the exam answers they<br />
wrote, along with comments on their exam answers and<br />
copies of the best answers written by members of the<br />
group.<br />
By the end of the four weeks, the participants will have<br />
received an introduction to the law covered in their first<br />
year courses and will have developed the class preparation,<br />
outline preparation, and exam taking skills they need to<br />
excel in law school.<br />
- Alice Jakyung Choi<br />
Class of 2009
“L.E.A.P. stands for Legal<br />
Education Access Program,<br />
but when you participate in<br />
the program, you will learn<br />
that it has a deeper<br />
meaning. L.E.A.P. was<br />
instrumental in helping me<br />
transition as a first year<br />
law student. I was inspired<br />
by my L.E.A.P. teaching<br />
assistants who had been<br />
successful in their first year,<br />
and it gave me the<br />
confidence that I would also<br />
be able to achieve this same<br />
goal. Participating in<br />
L.E.A.P. not only allows<br />
you to excel academically<br />
but also provides a support<br />
system, something we all<br />
need as law students.”<br />
- Winsome Taik<br />
Class of 2010<br />
“<strong>LEAP</strong> is the SINGLE<br />
most helpful program to<br />
assist incoming minority<br />
law students. <strong>LEAP</strong><br />
provides students with a<br />
basic layout of law school<br />
with actual training to<br />
succeed in 1st year law<br />
classes. It also links<br />
individuals into a social<br />
network for study groups,<br />
discussions and various<br />
other benefits. I attribute a<br />
significant portion of my<br />
success in law school to<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong>. It would have<br />
been a grave mistake to<br />
miss out on the <strong>LEAP</strong><br />
program if one has the<br />
opportunity to attend its<br />
sessions.”<br />
L.E.A.P. ACADEMIC<br />
YEAR PROGRAM<br />
During the fall and spring semesters, L.E.A.P. participants<br />
in each section will have a L.E.A.P. Teaching Assistant<br />
for each of their substantive courses. They will meet with<br />
their Teaching Assistants regularly, in Teaching Assistant<br />
Sessions, and will focus on difficult areas of substantive<br />
law and on preparation for mid-term exams and the<br />
exams that are given at the end of each semester.<br />
The Teaching Assistants serve as teachers, mentors, and<br />
friends. They are highly successful upper-division students<br />
who participated in the L.E.A.P. Program during their<br />
first year of law school and are giving back to new first<br />
year students what they received from their L.E.A.P.<br />
Teaching Assistants.<br />
During the academic year, the L.E.A.P. Program<br />
Director and Student Co-Directors are available to<br />
L.E.A.P. participants for one-on-one counseling and<br />
academic guidance. Wonderful assistance also is available<br />
from five minority student organizations, the Asian<br />
Pacific American <strong>Law</strong> Students Association (APALSA),<br />
the Black <strong>Law</strong> Students Association (BLSA), the Latino/a<br />
American <strong>Law</strong> Student Association (LALSA), the Muslim<br />
<strong>Law</strong> Students Association (MLSA), and the South Asian<br />
<strong>Law</strong> Students Association (SALSA). These organizations<br />
bring interesting and informative speakers to the campus,<br />
have mentoring programs for first year students, and<br />
provide excellent networking opportunities through<br />
affiliation with regional and national organizations.<br />
- Han Sheng Beh<br />
Class of 2009
“L.E.A.P. is a great<br />
program that helped me<br />
understand and develop the<br />
mindset and the reading<br />
and writing skills that I<br />
needed to succeed in law<br />
school. The summer<br />
program was instrumental<br />
in my success at law school,<br />
and had I not attended<br />
that program I would not<br />
have known how to brief a<br />
case or write a law school<br />
exam. Moreover, the<br />
friends that I made during<br />
L.E.A.P. are friends I still<br />
spend time with.”<br />
- Wendy Jean-Bart<br />
Class of 2009<br />
L.E.A.P.<br />
PROGRAM RESULTS<br />
• Excellent academic performance by minority<br />
students at the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong> since the founding of<br />
the L.E.A.P. program<br />
• Selection of minority students to serve as Editorsin-Chief<br />
and Managing Editors of the <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong><br />
Review, <strong>Touro</strong> International <strong>Law</strong> Review, and<br />
<strong>Touro</strong> Journal of Race, Gender and Ethnicity<br />
• Winners of the prestigious Bainbridge Moot Court<br />
Competition and service as Editors on the Moot<br />
Court Board<br />
• Presidents and other officers of <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong><br />
organizations, including Presidents of the Student<br />
Bar Association (the student body president)<br />
• Excellent law career opportunities made available<br />
by excellent academic performance<br />
“L.E.A.P. helped me a<br />
great deal going into my<br />
first semester of law school.<br />
I learned in L.E.A.P. that<br />
the trick to being successful<br />
in law school is doing the<br />
work. There aren't any<br />
short cuts. Our TAs gave<br />
us great study techniques. I<br />
learned the discipline and<br />
sacrifice that's required.<br />
This was vital because I<br />
was able to start the<br />
semester off on the right<br />
foot.”<br />
• More than 900 minority lawyers who have<br />
graduated from the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong> since the L.E.A.P.<br />
Program was founded in 1990, and who are<br />
members of the L.E.A.P. Alumni Association<br />
- Michael Rivers<br />
Class of 2012
“The <strong>LEAP</strong> Program was a motivating factor in my decision to come to <strong>Touro</strong>. While<br />
participating in the <strong>LEAP</strong> program I learned the necessary tools for success in law school, while<br />
surrounded by people that believed in my success. The <strong>LEAP</strong> program gave me a support<br />
team, a relationship with peer-mentors, and a family away from home. The <strong>LEAP</strong> program<br />
has made a tremendous impact on my law school career. Because I know how much of a<br />
difference it made in my life, I make sure to give back to the upcoming classes by serving as<br />
their <strong>LEAP</strong> TA or mentor. The <strong>LEAP</strong> program embodies the same ideals that I was taught<br />
while growing up, which is, with hard work I can achieve anything. My participation in<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong>, hard work, and dedication has made it possible for me to fulfill my dreams. After<br />
graduation, my dreams will transform into reality when I have the honor of taking on my first<br />
case as a criminal defense attorney in New York City.”<br />
- Rebecca Gregory<br />
Class of 2012<br />
“L.E.A.P. is the law school equivalent of a family. The level of caring and respect that you<br />
receive from your fellow L.E.A.P. students is invaluable. No matter how stressful law school<br />
becomes, L.E.A.P. provides the tools and skills necessary to overcome the inevitable<br />
obstacles.”<br />
- Gregory Coleman, Jr.<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program Student Co-Director 2008-2009<br />
Class of 2009<br />
“The L.E.A.P. program was truly instrumentally in the success I experienced in the first<br />
semester of law school. I employed the strategies taught by Professor Scherer and the many<br />
L.E.A.P. volunteers who dedicated their time and effort to help us succeed, all the way from<br />
briefing the cases for orientation to studying for finals. The program also provided an<br />
invaluable support system of upper classmen and other first year students who helped to make<br />
the first day of class feel like a familiar journey instead of a daunting new beginning.”<br />
- Luzan Moore<br />
Class of 2014
“When I first received my acceptance to attend <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, I was filled with a world of<br />
emotions ranging from elation to anxiety. Shortly after receiving my acceptance letter, I received<br />
a letter informing me about the <strong>LEAP</strong> program, which gives minority students exposure to the<br />
first year courses prior to the start of school. I reluctantly decided to attend the program and<br />
later realized that this was the best decision I have every made. Being a participant in <strong>Touro</strong>’s<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program allowed me to not only meet new people prior to the start of law school, but<br />
also to obtain a foundation for success in law school. By facilitating my acculturation into law<br />
school, the <strong>LEAP</strong> program gave me a much better chance for success as a law student. My<br />
decision to participate paved the way for a smooth and successful transition to law school.”<br />
- Jesseka Green<br />
Class of 2012<br />
“<strong>LEAP</strong> was the single most influential program that served as my stepping-stones into law<br />
school. When I participated in <strong>LEAP</strong> during the summer before my first year, I was inspired<br />
by the success of the upper-level students. The <strong>LEAP</strong> teaching assistants not only provided me<br />
with the academic guidance I needed when entering law school, but with emotional and mental<br />
support as well. L.E.A.P. has provided me with an irreplaceable experience in law school thus<br />
far and I attribute a significant portion of my success in law school to <strong>LEAP</strong>!”<br />
- Jennifer Ng<br />
Class of 2013<br />
“I didn’t leap; I soared into my first semester at <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> because of <strong>LEAP</strong>. The <strong>LEAP</strong><br />
program was the foundation for my success. The caring <strong>LEAP</strong> students and faculty ushered me<br />
into the daunting law school process. I was taught the fundamentals of being a law student by<br />
learning how to: prepare for class, time manage, brief court cases, IRAC, study effectively, and<br />
take law school exams. <strong>LEAP</strong> also introduced me to an exceptional group of students and<br />
faculty who now are great friends, mentors, and at times, even lifesavers. <strong>LEAP</strong> is a unique<br />
program with irreplaceable benefits. I could not imagine my life at <strong>Touro</strong> without it.”<br />
- Kristen Berrios<br />
Class of 2014
“On my first visit to <strong>Touro</strong>, prior to being accepted, a young gentleman stopped to talk with me<br />
and told me about a summer program called L.E.A.P. and how instrumental it was to his<br />
success in law school. I expressed to him how grateful I was that he spent the time to speak<br />
with me and he responded, “Just make sure while you are here that you pass this message<br />
along to another incoming minority law student.” I was overwhelmed with the sense of<br />
community and support I received from my first short visit to <strong>Touro</strong>. Since then, L.E.A.P.<br />
has provided me with exceptional tools and resources to manage the challenging workload of<br />
law school. My success is truly based on my willingness to fully participate and take advantage<br />
of all of the wonderful opportunities <strong>Touro</strong>’s L.E.A.P. program has to offer.”<br />
- Malaika Makembe<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program Student Director 2009-2010<br />
Class of 2010<br />
“I cannot stress enough how valuable <strong>LEAP</strong> was to my first semester of law school. <strong>Law</strong> school<br />
is a big transition, and <strong>LEAP</strong> eases you into it. It enhanced my study techniques and test<br />
skills that other 1Ls struggle to find their first semester. It's a great introduction to the structure<br />
of a law school classroom and definitely a program I'd suggest to attend. Not only does it<br />
prepare you for the intense workload ahead, but it's an opportunity to meet other students.<br />
The people you meet during <strong>LEAP</strong> will be one of your strongest support systems, which is<br />
essential to a successful law school experience."<br />
- Cheryl Villanueva<br />
Class of 2014<br />
“<strong>LEAP</strong> provides minority law school students with the tools and resources necessary to succeed<br />
in law school, which otherwise would not have been available to them. As a <strong>LEAP</strong><br />
participant, I had access to a support group of successful upper-division minority students.<br />
L.E.A.P. was instrumental in my success in law school. As a <strong>LEAP</strong> TA, I enjoyed assisting<br />
minority students succeed in law school. It would be a mistake for a minority student to miss<br />
out on the L.E.A.P. program.”<br />
- Rafael Espinoza<br />
Class of 2012
“The <strong>LEAP</strong> program provides incoming minority students with the opportunity to develop<br />
critical relationships with other students prior to the first day of law school. These relationships<br />
help to make the transition into the fast-paced law school environment less stressful. Within the<br />
first week of the <strong>LEAP</strong> program I found my study partner and best friend who provided both<br />
emotional and academic support throughout all three years of law school. Students will also<br />
learn from successful upper-level students the skills and techniques necessary to succeed in law<br />
school. The ability to ask questions and practice different study techniques over the course of the<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> program is invaluable. The <strong>LEAP</strong> program exceeded all my expectations. I would not<br />
be where I am today without this program. Thank you Professor Scherer and thank you<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong>!”<br />
- Lauren Morales<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program Student Co-Director 2010-2011<br />
Class of 2012<br />
“Pursuing my dream to become an attorney after working for many years and raising my family<br />
seemed like a goal I would never accomplish. L.E.A.P. eased my anxiety about attending law<br />
school and gave me the tools I needed to succeed. After my four weeks in the L.E.A.P.<br />
summer program, my fear gave way to determination and I welcomed the start of law school<br />
feeling prepared for all the challenges before me. For students that have been away from the<br />
classroom for years, L.E.A.P. offers a safe and nurturing environment to prepare us for success<br />
day one of law school. You quickly learn that there are many factors that contribute to your<br />
performance in law school and L.E.A.P. becomes an extension of your support system to help<br />
you navigate through the process.”<br />
- Tanya Freeman<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program Student Co-Director 2010-2011 and 2011-2012<br />
Class of 2012<br />
“The <strong>LEAP</strong> program has served as the single most beneficial resource for me in law school. This<br />
remarkable program helps students develop the skills necessary to succeed. Additionally, it is a<br />
network of students who can relate, understand and assist you through the academic demands<br />
you’ll face. The program supports you by way of the teaching assistance of upper-division<br />
students. As well, these students help impart valuable lessons learned from their experiences<br />
during law school. My gratitude for the program cannot be fully expressed in words but has<br />
been a rewarding opportunity, which should be used to its full advantage. ”<br />
- Julianne Rodriguez<br />
<strong>LEAP</strong> Program Student Co-Director 2011-2012<br />
Class of 2013
ANTHEA M. DES ETAGES<br />
Class of 2001<br />
Assistant Dean for Academics<br />
Charlotte School of <strong>Law</strong><br />
Editor-in-Chief<br />
of the <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Review<br />
“The L.E.A.P. summer program not only introduced me to first year law school subjects, but also<br />
fostered an early understanding of the law school culture and the academic rigor inherent in the law school<br />
curriculum. The academic year component of the program helped me develop the skills essential to any<br />
law student’s success using substantive law as the vehicle through which those skills could be practiced.<br />
From writing essays to articulating legal analysis for hypothetical questions, from comparing outlines to<br />
brainstorming study schedules, students were always encouraged to develop long-term habits that would<br />
enable them to perform well on their law school exams and ultimately on the bar exam. Beyond law<br />
school, many of the people I met in the L.E.A.P. program are now lifelong friends. The bonds we share<br />
withstand long absences, diverse geographic locations and different life circumstances. I was fortunate to be<br />
able to pass on the skills I mastered in the L.E.A.P. program as the Academic Success Counselor at a<br />
law school in Charlotte, and now serve as Assistant Dean for Academics at this law school. Who knew<br />
that the impact of the L.E.A.P. program on my life would be so far-reaching?”<br />
MARGARET CHAN<br />
Class of 1993<br />
Judge<br />
Civil Court, City of New York<br />
Managing Editor<br />
of the <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Review<br />
“The L.E.A.P. program lessened the anxiety of dealing with classes and classmates, many of whom were<br />
ten years my junior, in a geographical area where a minority student was seldom seen. The orientation<br />
demystified the whole legal conundrum for those unversed in this field, and the staff and members were<br />
warm-hearted and caring. That was a very good start.<br />
I took the L.E.A.P. summer course and, in turn, taught a few courses for L.E.A.P. I found a few people<br />
from this small community that is the L.E.A.P. program, with whom I studied for the bar exam. We all<br />
did well and we remain good friends. We ventured forth and became successful in the legal field. I am<br />
currently a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York. I am thankful to the L.E.A.P. program for<br />
the encouragement to go the distance in getting where I am now and I am thankful to <strong>Touro</strong> for giving me<br />
the tools to get here.”
ROSS E. PETERS<br />
Class of 2000<br />
International Tax Attorney<br />
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company<br />
Editor-in-Chief<br />
of the <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Review<br />
“When Professor Scherer invited me to participate in <strong>Touro</strong>’s Legal Education Access Program (L.E.A.P.)<br />
summer course for new first year law students, I was hesitant to attend at first. I was unsure that it would<br />
be worth my time and effort to make the move from Texas to New York a month prior to the beginning of<br />
my first semester. After the first day of the program, I realized that it would have been a mistake not to<br />
attend. I could not have had a better introduction to law school than I received by participating in<br />
L.E.A.P. The summer program provided not only a glance through the window of what was to come in<br />
the first year of law school, but also some of the valuable tools that would be needed to attack the challenges<br />
ahead. The teaching assistant sessions throughout the academic year helped me to solidify what I learned in<br />
the classroom and develop strong bonds with other L.E.A.P. participants. The program proved so<br />
beneficial to my academic development that I decided to give back to L.E.A.P. by becoming a teaching<br />
assistant.”<br />
SANDRA IRBY<br />
Class of 2007<br />
Principal <strong>Law</strong> Clerk<br />
to Court of Appeals Judge Theodore T. Jones<br />
New York State Court of Appeals<br />
Member of the <strong>Touro</strong> <strong>Law</strong> Review and Class Orator at graduation<br />
“During the summer program, students learn how to brief cases - which is a daunting, time consuming task<br />
for a first year student. Students also learn study and test-taking skills. At the time that I participated in<br />
L.E.A.P., I worked full-time at an insurance company and intended to maintain that schedule, while<br />
attending the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong>'s part-time program. L.E.A.P. formed my understanding of law school and<br />
how to achieve academic success. It answered many of the key questions that incoming students typically<br />
ask, such as: what to study, how to study and how much one should study. The program provided me<br />
with the tools I needed to be a successful law student and connected me to upper-level students who had<br />
achieved academic success at the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong>. Attending L.E.A.P.'s summer classes and the teaching<br />
assistant sessions helped me obtain academic achievements such as Dean's List and <strong>Law</strong> Review. After my<br />
first year of law school, I continued to participate in L.E.A.P. as a teaching assistant. That opportunity<br />
allowed me to mentor incoming students and reinforce my knowledge in important subjects that were<br />
certain to appear on a bar exam. L.E.A.P. boosted my academic and professional successes, and for those<br />
reasons, I will be forever grateful to Professor Scherer and the students who continue to make L.E.A.P. a<br />
successful program at the <strong>Law</strong> <strong>Center</strong>.”