Douglass students Emily Salamon DRC’22 and Kimberly Mohabeer DRC’21 are leading the way for women interested in law and public policy at the University. Their new student organization, the Women’s Pre-Law Society, is currently the only organization at the University that specifically serves the needs of women navigating pre-law majors and law school aspirations.

“We established the Women’s Pre-Law Society to bring together the next generation of future lawyers here at the University,” said Salamon, president of the organization. “We want to create a welcoming space for women interested in the legal field to share their opinions, thoughts, and questions.”

The coming academic year will be the group’s first official year in operation, and they already have a robust lineup of programming for members. This semester, students will meet with an array of speakers in law and public policy, including an innovative panel composed of lawyers popular for sharing their insights on social media platforms such as Tik Tok. In October, they will also host an Assemblywoman and her Chief of Staff in a collaboration with the Rutgers Women’s Political Caucus.

“The organization fills a gap that we have seen for far too long,” said Mohabeer, vice-president.  “Although there are a lot of pre-law resources on campus, none specifically address the unique considerations for the difficulties women going into law face. We hope that through the organization, we’ll be able to contribute towards a more equitable environment for women and nonbinary individuals. On a more intersectional level, we hope to serve women who hold multiple identities, for whom there are often even more barriers to entering the field.”

Both Salamon and Mohabeer are active Douglass students, involved in the College’s chapter of the Public Leadership Education Network and the BOLD Center, Douglass’ career center. They cite Douglass programs and mentorship—particularly from the organization’s advisor, Senior Director of Douglass’ BOLD Center Stephanie Perez—as helping them establish the organization. After completing an externship through the BOLD program, Salamon obtained a position working with an Assemblywoman from the 25th District of New Jersey, and is now interning for a Congresswoman in New York City. Mohabeer has landed internships working with attorneys in the area, a Douglass externship at the New York State Supreme Court in the Chambers of Justice Andrea Masley, and a research position at the Eagleton Institute for Politics. She currently works for the Middlesex County Bar Association.

“My experiences at Douglass have been invaluable. I transferred to Rutgers for my junior year of college and I immediately felt a sense of support from everyone in this community,” said Salamon. “I owe a lot of my internship success, as well as the success of our organization, to the leaders here at Douglass.”

“I have had such an incredible experience as a Douglass Woman. Douglass has opened so many doors for me, from internships to externships, to meeting people who have helped me so much along the way,” said Mohabeer. “I found all of the guidance I needed in the Douglass community, from women who helped me find my passion.”

After graduation, both Salamon and Mohabeer intend to apply to law or graduate school, and continue making an impact for women students interested in law.

“I would love to be involved in civil rights whether that is through public policy, the law or another avenue,” said Salamon. “The interpersonal and professional skills I have learned through Douglass and the BOLD center have prepared me for my future in so many ways. I find myself using the skills I have learned even in the current internships I have been completing.”

“The skills I have gained are ones I know I will need through my journey,” Mohabeer adds. “I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to develop them through Douglass.”

Salamon and Mohabeer are looking forward to bringing their skills to the new group.

“Above all else, we wanted this organization to be a place where women could build a network amongst each other,” said Salamon. “Cultivating and maintaining connections in any field is so important. With lower numbers of women in the legal field, it is more important than ever that we cheer each other on. This organization is important because it is a place for us to do that. We hope the women who meet in this club will continue to be each other's lifelong supporters!”