Columbia Law School: Lead Fellowship Program

Program Overview
Apply to Columbia Law School during the spring of your junior or senior year
Join a community of future lawyers and leaders
Take a two-year deferral period following your undergraduate studies to develop your leadership skills
Matriculate to Columbia Law School at the completion of your two-year deferral period
Through our Leadership Experience Admission Deferral (LEAD) fellowship program, Columbia Law School seeks to admit and support self-starting undergraduate students who plan to launch meaningful public or private ventures before entering law school.We welcome applications from prospective students who are interested in pursuing a JD degree from Columbia Law School and who also aspire to develop their leadership skills through a project, academic pursuit, employment, volunteer opportunity, or other venture during a mandatory two-year gap period between completing undergraduate studies and commencing study at the Law School. In addition, successful applicants may be awarded a funding grant of up to $10,000 to enable them to finance and pursue a proposed project, venture, or activity of their own during the gap period.Dates and DeadlinesSeptember—March: Prospective LEAD applicants are invited to attend information sessions, tour the law school, and consult with a pre-law advisor. Prospective LEAD applicants who have not already done so should register with LSAC.org.April 15: LEAD Fellowship application availableJune 15: LEAD application deadlineJuly 31: Admissions decisions are typically released on or before July 31Application Components
LSAT* or GRE Test
Undergraduate Transcripts
Two Academic Letters of Recommendation
Resume
Three Required Essays
Dean’s Certification (if applicable)
Project Plan (optional)
*We will accept scores from the June LSAT in the year you are applying.