Expressions of interest sought for Summer Pre-law Program 2022

The NMI Judiciary is announcing a call for interest for its 2022 Summer Pre-law Program. The program is open to college students and graduates. Individuals interested in attending should contact the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Judy T. Aldan, by sending an email to judy.aldan@nmijudiciary.com.

The program will be held on Saipan, and it provides participants with an opportunity to experience first-year law school courses taught by seasoned law school professors. It is a three-weeklong program and includes two substantive legal subjects, legal writing and analysis workshops, Law School Admission Test preparation workshop, and assistance in preparing law school admission applications.

In addition, the program incorporates a mock appellate hearing before a panel of justices. Participants are also paired with attorney-mentors who provide assistance and guidance.

The Summer Pre-law Program is held every three to four years. Unfortunately, the 2020 schedule was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the years, the pre-law program has seen over 32 participants obtain their juris doctor degree from law schools across the nation, and most have returned to the Northern Mariana Islands to serve the CNMI community as prosecutors, defense counsel, private practitioners, judge and justice.

In July 2014, Professor Robert J. Desiderio of the University of New Mexico School of Law taught Introductory Contracts and Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor of Rutgers Law School taught Introductory Property. That class produced the following five students who chose to pursue law school and legal careers:

Anthony H. Aguon, University of San Francisco School of Law and School of Management (2018), Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School; Attorney at Aguon Law Office, LLC on Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

Carmen V. Borja, University of New Mexico School of Law (2019), Saipan Southern High School; Law Clerk to Justice Perry B. Inos of the Supreme Court of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Savana V. Manglona, University of California Davis School of Law (2019), Mount Carmel School; Attorney at Liebert Cassidy Whitmore in Sacramento, California.

Janina Maratita, Lewis & Clark Law School (2017), Saipan Southern High School; Policy Analyst at the Office of the Governor, Northern Mariana Islands.

Gretchen A. Smith, University of California Davis School of Law (2018), Marianas High School; Law Clerk to Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona of the United States District Court for the Northern Mariana Islands. (PR)