Diversity Resources
Below are links to programs and resources geared towards providing preparation for law school for students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds. Watch the listserv for announcements of key dates when they are made available each year. (Scroll to the end for a few key additional links for newly accepted law students, who should be sure to speak with career services and diversity offices at their respective law schools.)
AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Program Directory
https://www.accesslex.org/accesslex-diversity-pipeline-program-directory
National directory of pipeline programs (Note: Free summer programs are generally consolidated on the LSAC website under PLUS programs, and noted below here; it will generally be more effective look there first.)
American Bar Assocation - Law School Disability Programs Directory
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/resources/law_school_programs/
Meant for the legal community and lawyers, as well as law students and potential law students with disabilities, the American Bar Association Commission on Disability Rights collects data from ABA-accredited law schools concerning their disability-related programming.
American Bar Association - Legal Opportunity Scholarship Fund - For current applicants
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/projects_initiatives/legal_opportunity_scholarship/
Awards $5,000 of financial assistance annually to each scholarship recipient attending an ABA-accredited law school. An award made to an entering first-year student may be renewable for two additional years, resulting in financial assistance totaling $15,000 during his or her time in law school.
American Bar Association (ABA) - Links for diverse students
https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/diversity_pipeline/
General links posted by the ABA's Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline
Asian Pacific American Bar Association Educational Fund (AEF)
https://www.aefdc.org/first-generation-scholarship
$5,000 scholarship per year to law students who are the first in their families to pursue a legal career and who have demonstrated outstanding academic success in the face of challenging cultural, social, and economic circumstances
BARBRI Law Preview - For current law school applicants (admitted 1L's)
https://lawpreview.barbri.com/10000-get-information/
>>Scholarship up to $10,000
>>Free Law Preview courses in partnership with specific law schools
Coelho Center for Disability Law, Policy, and Innovation
https://www.lls.edu/coelhocenter/lawfellowsprogram/
Trains and mentors college students with disabilities to think about a path toward law school. Program includes (i) two-week summer intensive legal course; (ii) planning support through the law school application process; (iii) participation in the disability advocacy project; (iv) publication opportunity on The Coelho Center Blog; and (v) $1000 stipend upon completion
Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO)
https://cleoinc.org/
CLEO is committed to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities to minority, low-income and disadvantaged groups. Note: charges fees for information/programs that may be available for free elsewhere
The Dream.US
Graduate School Loans for students who cannot file FAFSA
https://www.thedream.us/graduate-loans/
IDEAL Program
https://www.fordham.edu/info/29446/ideal_pipeline_program
Three summer, diversity opportunity directed at second semester sophomores, in aniticipation of the summer before Junior year; sponsored by Fordham Law School
Immigrants Rising
https://immigrantsrising.org/leadership-opportunities/pre-law-bootcamp/
>Pre-Law Bootcamp is a three-day program for undocumented young people seeking (i) extra support navigating the law school application process and (ii) a community of other pre-law students and legal professionals.
>Pre-Law Fund grants up to $2,500 to cover LSAT preparation and law school application fees. For eligibility requires Pre-Law Bootcamp participation.
Law School Admissions Council - Diversity Initiatives
https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/diversity-law-school/raciallyethnically-diverse-applicants
Provides information for racially/ethnically diverse applicants
Law School Admissions Council Summer PLUS Programs
https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/diversity-law-school/prelaw-undergraduate-scholars-plus-programs
Offers an immersive summer prelaw experience on various law school campuses, for rising undergraduate sophomores and juniors from groups who are underrepresented in the legal profession
Lawbound
https://www.latinojustice.org/en/lawbound
An initiative of LatinoJustice that provides a week long training program
Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) LGBTQ Guide to Law Schools
https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/diversity-law-school/lgbtq-law-school/lgbtq-guide-law-schools
LexScholars
https://www.accesslex.org/tools-and-resources/lexscholars-accesslex
Provides LSAT Prep and counseling to groups underrepresented in the legal profession and have an LSAT score no higher than the 25th percentile
LGBT Bar Association Foundation of Greater New York (“LeGaL”) - LSAT Scholarship
https://www.lgbtbarny.org/scholarship
Marshall Motley Scholars Program - For current law school applicants
https://marshallmotleyscholars.org/
Full scholarship for law students who commit to serving as civil rights lawyers based in the South
Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) LMJ Scholarship Program - For current law school applicants
https://www.mcca.com/pipeline/scholarship-program/
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (APA) Pre-Law Conference (Fall Term, periodic)
https://www.napaba.org/page/prelaw
Provides information regarding law school admissions and experience, as well as career choices
National Black Pre-Law Conference (Fall term)
https://blackprelawconference.org/
Provides information regarding law school admissions and experience, as well as career choices
National Diversity Pre-Law Conference (Fall term, periodic)
http://diversityprelawconference.org/about-us/
Provides information regarding law school admissions and experience, as well as career choices
National Hispanic Pre-Law Conference (Fall term)
https://hispanicprelawconference.org/
Provides information regarding law school admissions and experience, as well as career choices
Navigating Graduate School: Resource Guide for Undocumented Students
https://www.thedream.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Navigating-Graduate-School_-Resource-Guide-for-Undocumented-Stude-1.pdf
Prepared by the Santa Clara University School of Law. Includes information about disclosure.
New York City Bar Association Diversity Pipeline Initiatives (DPI) Committee
https://www.nycbar.org/serving-the-community/diversity-and-inclusion/student-pipeline-programs/programs
>>LSAT/Law School Prep Conference - Annual one one-day conference for college students and recent graduates provides information on LSAT, applying to law school, and the law school experience. Program includes a networking and admissions fair (January)
>>Launching Your Career Seminar Series - Six weekly sessions covering professional skills (Spring term)
New York Law School Summer Pre-Law Program
https://www.nyls.edu/about/diversity-and-inclusion/pre-law-pipeline-programs/
Attend courses at NYLS for two consecutive summers. The program is open to rising college juniors who study in the New York City metropolitan area, or elsewhere in New York State.
New York Legal Education Opportunity Program (LEO) - For current law school applicants
http://ww2.nycourts.gov/attorneys/leo
Through an intense six-week summer program, the NY LEO Program assists minority, low income and economically or educationally disadvantaged college graduates in acquiring the fundamental and practical skills necessary to succeed in law school. The program is available to candidates who have already been accepted to law school, and will attend law school in New York the following fall as 1L's.
SEO - For current law school applicants
>>Big law placement before 1L year - https://www.seo-usa.org/law/our-program/fellowship/
>>CATALYST LSAT prep and application support - https://www.seo-usa.org/law/our-program/catalyst/
Sidley Austin LLP Pre-Law Scholars Program
https://www.sidley.com/en/us/diversitylanding/sidley-prelaw-scholars-program/
Subsidizes the LSAT preparatory course and law school application expenses of diverse, high-performing college students who have difficulty paying the expenses associated with applying to law school
www.scsjip.org/college-student-internship-program/
Runs for 8 weeks on a full-time basis during the summer and includes a 4-week judicial internship and a 4-week LSAT Prep program
TRIALS - Free LSAT Prep
https://trials.atfoundation.org/program
Fully subsidized summer study program for students of modest means whose backgrounds are currently underrepresented at the nation’s top law schools. Partnership of Harvard Law School, NYU School of Law, and Advantage Testing Foundation. (Note: This is a limited, competitive opportunity. Hunter College offers a highly regarded, partially subsidized LSAT class through the Pre-Law Program.)
FOR LAW STUDENTS
Leadership Council on Legal Diversity
https://www.lcldnet.org/12-months-of-diversity-opportunities/
A a comprehensive listing of diversity scholarships, clerkships, mentorships, internships, conventions, and job fairs available to law students.
Minority Corporate Council Association
https://www.mcca.com/pipeline/scholarship-program/related-scholarship-links/
A list of organizations that offer law school scholarships and fellowships to diverse students
