The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University has been named to preLaw Magazine’s inaugural Justice & Opportunity Honor Roll, a national recognition highlighting law schools that demonstrate leadership in expanding access to legal education and strengthening pathways into the legal profession.

Featured in preLaw’s Winter issue, the Honor Roll recognizes the top 20 percent of U.S. law schools whose innovative and lawful strategies broaden opportunity for students from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The distinction reflects Pace Haub Law’s longstanding and deeply embedded commitment to ensuring that access to legal education, and ultimately access to justice, remains central to its mission.

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“We are honored to be included in preLaw Magazine’s inaugural Justice & Opportunity Honor Roll,” said Pace Haub Law’s Dean, Horace E. Anderson Jr. “At Pace Haub Law, expanding access to justice is not a standalone initiative; it is woven into our curriculum, our partnerships, and our community engagement. Access to justice begins with access to education. We are proud that our work, in the classroom, in the courthouse, and in the community, continues to open doors and expand opportunity for the next generation of legal professionals.” Pace Haub Law’s approach to expanding opportunity spans pipeline initiatives, academic programming, experiential learning, and community partnerships.

In 2020, the Law School formally launched the Pace Access to Justice Project (Pace A2J), an initiative designed to increase student, faculty, and staff engagement in pro bono and community-based work, while supporting the local community in addressing justice gaps. Pace A2J incorporates curricular, experiential, research, and policy advocacy components, building on the Law School’s nationally recognized clinics and centers. Through courses such as the Access to Justice Seminar and the Access to Justice Lab, students critically examine systemic barriers to justice while working on real-world solutions that strengthen the legal services ecosystem. The initiative serves as a hub for community collaboration and civic engagement across the region.

Being named to this Honor Roll affirms our belief that legal education must actively respond to the justice gaps that persist in our communities.

—Horace E. Anderson, Jr., Dean of Pace Haub Law

“Being named to this Honor Roll affirms our belief that legal education must actively respond to the justice gaps that persist in our communities,” said Dean Anderson. “We are committed to preparing lawyers who understand those challenges and are equipped to address them.”

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A cornerstone of Pace Haub Law’s commitment to expanding opportunity is its robust suite of pipeline and civic education programs designed to expose, educate, and prepare students, particularly those historically underrepresented in the legal profession, for careers in law. Each year, the Law School partners with courts, schools, nonprofit organizations, and legal institutions to introduce hundreds of middle and high school students to the intersection of law, government, public service, and civic life. In the past, these initiatives have included: The Honorable Robert A. Katzmann Justice for All: Courts and the Community Initiative, The Verizon Street Law Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, the Scales of Justice Academy, Law Day with the White Plains Youth Bureau, participation in the New York Legal Education Opportunity Program, and more.

These initiatives are part of the broader Access to Justice framework and reflect the Law School’s belief that exposure, mentorship, and experiential learning are critical to diversifying and strengthening the legal profession. Programs include interactive workshops, mock trials, guest speakers, and classes taught by distinguished legal leaders, providing students with both civic knowledge and meaningful engagement with the legal system. “These efforts are designed not only to spark interest in the law, but also to provide students with the tools, confidence, and exposure needed to pursue legal education,” shared Dean Anderson.

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The Law School’s commitment to access and civic engagement continues to grow. Recently, the Center for Community Action and Research at Pace University announced that the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University received funding through Project Pericles’ Civic Engagement Mini-Grants program, supported by the Mellon Foundation and the Eugene M. Lang Foundation, to expand several pipeline and civic education programs. Director of Community Relations and Special Programs Lori Kanner, successfully applied for this grant, noting that “We are so appreciative of Project Pericles and this funding. This will allow the Law School to continue introducing hundreds of students annually to the workings of the law, thereby expanding access to legal education and ultimately, access to justice.” These initiatives, including the programs highlighted above, will further deepen partnerships with federal courts, local high schools, and community organizations.

Pace Haub Law leads through action and our longstanding commitment to both access to legal education and access to justice embodies this.

—Horace E. Anderson, Jr., Dean of Pace Haub Law

“Pace Haub Law leads through action and our longstanding commitment to both access to legal education and access to justice embodies this,” remarked Dean Anderson. “For the Law School to be included in the Justice & Opportunity Honor Roll reflects decades of sustained commitment to ensuring that opportunity within the legal profession is both meaningful and accessible. We remain dedicated to expanding that access for generations to come.”