BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University is making a significant investment in the future of legal education by expanding the reach of its nationally respected Frank G. Raichle Pre-Law Program. The university has appointed former federal attorney and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Special Counsel Christopher “Chris” Moellering, JD, as Assistant Vice President for Legal and Industry-aligned Pathways. The appointment coincides with a new articulation agreement between Canisius and Erie 1 BOCES that creates a college-credit pathway for aspiring legal professionals, and the recent announcement that the university will serve as the Erie County host site for the 2026 New York Youth Law Academy.
Together, these initiatives strengthen a pipeline that introduces students to legal careers in high school, supports them through undergraduate study, and prepares them for success in law school and the legal profession.
“Success in law school begins long before students submit an application,” said Irene Holohan-Moyer, PhD, associate vice provost for academic operations at Canisius University. “Students need opportunities to sharpen their analytical and communication skills, connect with mentors and gain meaningful exposure to the legal profession. Through the Raichle Pre-Law Program and initiatives like our partnership with Erie 1 BOCES and the New York Youth Law Academy, Canisius is creating more pathways for students to begin that journey.”
Moellering brings nearly two decades of legal experience across a range of legal fields to his role as Assistant Vice President for Legal and Industry-aligned Pathways. He served most recently as Special Counsel to the Deputy Principal Legal Advisor at DHS, advising on legal, regulatory, and national security matters across 24 field locations and in support of more than 1,500 DHS attorneys nationwide. He previously directed the Domestic Violence and Women's Rights Clinic at the University at Buffalo School of Law and served as a public defender with the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County, where he handled more than 2,000 misdemeanor and felony cases.
Moellering holds a juris doctor from Fordham University School of Law, a master of science from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University.
In his new role, Moellering advises students exploring legal careers, teaches law-related coursework, and coordinates with the university's Mock Trial program. He also serves as a key liaison to the Desmond Law Society, a network of more than 1,000 Canisius University alumni who are practicing, presiding, or retired attorneys and judges across Western New York and 35 states. Named for the Hon. Charles S. Desmond '17, former Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals, the Society mentors current students and connects Canisius with the broader legal community.
“The best preparation for law school isn’t simply taking the right classes and earning good grades,” said Moellering. “It’s learning how lawyers think, write, and analyze problems. The Raichle Pre-Law Program gives students those opportunities through close faculty mentorship, meaningful experiences with practicing attorneys and judges, and a network of alumni who are invested in their success.”
Creating a Pipeline to the Legal Profession
Among the initiatives expanding the reach of the Raichle Pre-Law Program is a new five-year articulation agreement with Erie 1 BOCES. The agreement provides qualified graduates of BOCES’ New Visions Legal Academy the opportunity to earn up to 10 college credits toward a degree at Canisius. Students who complete the academy with a minimum grade of 85 percent and a faculty recommendation may receive credit for coursework in legal studies and criminal justice, including Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminal Courts, and Criminal Law and Procedure.
Canisius will also serve as the Erie County host site for the 2026 New York Youth Law Academy (NYYLA), a free, week-long summer program scheduled for July 27-31 that introduces students entering grades 9-12 to the legal profession and pathways to law school. Through classroom instruction, interactive workshops, and engagement with attorneys, judges, and legal professionals, participants gain early exposure to legal careers, civic institutions, and public service. The academy is designed to expand access for students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in the legal profession.
For Canisius students ready to accelerate their path from undergraduate study to legal practice, the Raichle Pre-Law Program offers a 3+3 degree option in partnership with the University at Buffalo School of Law. Qualified students can complete both their bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees in six years rather than seven, saving time and tuition costs without sacrificing preparation. The pathway is open to students in a broad range of majors, including criminal justice, political science, English, psychology, history, philosophy, sociology, and strategic communication.
The Raichle Pre-Law Program is built on rigorous advising, hands-on legal experience, and deep connections to the profession. Students complete internships with law firms and courts, participate in the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity, and draw on the mentorship of the Desmond Law Society’s network of attorneys and judges. Students also benefit from the Raichle Pre-Law Lecture Series, which has brought U.S. Supreme Court justices, members of Congress, and other nationally recognized legal scholars and leaders to campus for conversations on law, justice, and public policy.
Canisius pre-law students are accepted into law school at a rate of nearly 90 percent. Recent graduates have gone on to study law at Harvard, Notre Dame, and Columbia universities. Alumni have pursued careers spanning corporate law, criminal prosecution and defense, and civil and human rights litigation.
For more information on the Raichle Pre-Law Program at Canisius University visit canisius.edu or contact Audrey R. Browka, director of public relations, at 716-888-2792 or @email.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate, and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring, and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
