First Generation College Student | New England Law

First Generation College Student | New England Law
First-Generation Students
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First Generation Students
27%
of incoming students are first-generation
Monthly events featuring tailored advice
Empowering First-Generation Students
New England Law’s First-Generation Students Program welcomes, supports, and celebrates students from diverse backgrounds. Offering mentorship, community events, and tangible resources, we help first-generation students navigate law school confidently.
First Generation Program
Hear from our first-generation students as they share their experiences, challenges, and the support that helps them thrive at New England Law Boston.
https://www.nesl.edu/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Inclusion_and_Equity.mp4
Forging New Paths, Together
Did you know some experts say you’re 17 times more likely to become a lawyer if your parent is one? While many students entering law school are following in their parents’ footsteps—and privy to their guidance and advice—students who are the first in their family to attend law school are without such guidance, and may struggle with uncertainty and a lack of belonging. That’s where New England Law steps in.
Fostering Success
Our First-Generation Student program helps connect these students to a welcoming community and to the tools they need to help the succeed:
Monthly events featuring tailored advice
Networking opportunities with fellow first-gen students and first-gen alumni
Mentoring relationships with faculty and practicing attorneys
Mental health and wellness
Confidential group sessions facilitated by a faculty member or a licensed clinical social worker that provide a supportive space in which to share their challenges, celebrate their successes, and develop important coping skills.
Guidance on everything from preparing for the first law school exam, to finding a summer fellowship or internship
First-Gen Students
“Those involved allow each person their space to talk and share, giving encouragement. We might all feel the extra burden of “fitting in” but we don’t have to feel that alone. And we can gain confidence in the space we are in going forward.”
—
Eva de Charleroy
“This program has helped shape my law school career by giving me confidence and has helped quell those thoughts of ‘imposter syndrome’. It has made me feel like I have a community and support system. Without the program, I think I would have felt more overwhelmed and more isolated throughout my first year. It is a great place to vent, get support, connect with peers, and realize that you are not alone in feeling the way you do. It was a source of strength and empowerment.”
—
Caitlin Whitman
Frequently Asked Questions
First generation (first-gen) students are students whose parent(s) did not complete a baccalaureate degree. In the law school setting, many students whose parent(s) graduated from college may nonetheless be the first in their immediate family to attend law school.
While many students entering law school are following in their parents’ footsteps—and privy to their guidance and advice—students who are the first in their family to attend law school are without such guidance, and may struggle with uncertainty and a lack of belonging.
The First-Generation Students Program welcomes, supports, and celebrates students from diverse backgrounds. It offers targeted mentorship, community events, and tangible resources to help first-generation students navigate law school confidently.
These resources can help get your career off to a smooth start.
Read
how our program has impacted some current New England Law students.
See Yourself at New England Law
Think New England Law | Boston is the perfect fit for you but want to find out before you apply?
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