PPI brings together two groups whose legal knowledge comes from very different perspectives: current Law School students and aspiring legal professionals whose skills were acquired while they were incarcerated.
Law students commit an entire academic year to PPI.
Under the guidance of faculty advisers, Columbia Law and Fordham Law students participate in a fall semester course that introduces them to the challenges faced by individuals returning from incarceration. During this course, students also design the upcoming PPI class curriculum and recruit facilitators, including faculty, alumni, and past participants, for the spring program. In the spring, law students join a cohort of justice-impacted individuals in the classroom, where the curriculum is led by a diverse group of professors, advocates, academics, and legal practitioners. The program covers legal research and writing, professional development, and other essential skills for navigating job applications and interviews.
The goal of the program is to transform and harness the PPI participants’ experiences navigating the criminal legal justice system into impactful and informed careers in the law.
