SUMMER PIPELINE & PATHWAY PROGRAMS
Law is one of the least diverse careers in the nation. Many law schools and organizations are working hard to change this by offering summer pipeline or pathway programs. These are free programs, usually during the summer, that include an introduction to the legal profession, networking, mock law classes taught by law professors, an overview of the law school application process, and even some LSAT prep and practice tests.
Most of these programs are FREE!! (but you may have to pay for transportation.)
Diversity includes many things, such as people from families with low incomes, being the first in your family to go to college or law school, being a first or second-generation immigrant, race and ethnicity, or someone who is not attending an elite college (like Harvard or Yale), or someone who is from out-of-state. MOST BW STUDENTS FALL INTO AT LEAST ONE OF THE CATEGORIES, SO THESE ARE PROGRAMS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT!
These programs vary in length (one week, three weeks, weekends) and some are virtual and some are in-person and residential. So you should be able to find one that fits your summer schedule.
Most of these programs have applications deadlines in February or March.
PROGRAMS ARE BEING ADDED TO THIS LIST ALL THE TIME SO CHECK BACK FREQUENTLY!
There are two types of programs. One type is nationally known, drawing students from across the country, and are highly competative with very low acceptance rates. The other type are the more "local" programs that tend to draw students from their region, and are much easier to get into, while still having a high quality intense experience.
PROGRAMS WITH A REASONABLE LIKELIHOOD THAT YOU WILL GET INTO
Launch Into Law at the University of Toledo College of Law. A week-long in-person residential program in May that includes LSAT strategies, legal writing courses, a mock-trial esperience, and networking. Housing provided. Offered two-times per year, in January and May. FYI: Professor Palmer knows the director. They would LOVE students from BW!
University of Minnesota Pre-Law Scholars Program. This is an online summer program for rising seniors that takes place in the evenings, so you can have an internship or work full time. The University of Minnesota is one of the top 20 law schools in the nation, so this would look amazing on your resume. FYI: Professor Palmer knows the director of this program and can put in a good word for you if you let her know you are applying.
Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc (CLEO). CLEO is a non-profit organization with the mission of increasing the number of minority and low-income students in law school. They offer a wide variety of short workshops (many online) on the application process and taking the LSAT, as well as an in-person weekend summer programs, the Prelaw Summer Institute (PLSI), held at about 10 different law schools every year across the nation. They also have a free newsletter you can sign up for.
Barnes and Thornberg's Pre-Law Scholars Program. This is for juniors and seniors who can show financial need. The program provides scholarships up to $2500 to pay for LSAT prep and LSAC account fees, and also matches students with attorney-mentors for monthly virtual meetings and other online networking opportunities. Applications open in December, with interviews happening in February, and acceptance in the program announced in March. FYI: Professor Palmer knows the director and can help you prepare your application and for the interview process.
University of Houston Law School Pre-Law Pipeline Scholar II Program. For rising seniors, this 3-month online summer program provides networking, LSAT prep, simulated law classes with law professors, internships, professional development, and intensive advising regarding the law school application process. The program costs for 2024 was $1600, but there are need-based scholarships available. FYI: Professor Palmer knows the director and can put in a good word for you if you let her know you are applying.
LSAC Plus Program. For rising sophomore and juniors, this is a 2-month intensive program that includes workshops on the application process and LSAT prep, as well as an internship, held at several law schools across the nation. There are also online versions of this program.
LexScholars by AccessLex. This program is for rising seniors from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds who possess potential for law school success but may be unlikely to gain admission due to low LSAT scores. The program is intended for students who have taken the LSAT at least once already. LexScholars receive LSAT prep training, application and financial counseling, and writing skills development.
HIGHLY COMPETATIVE NATIONAL PROGRAMS
TRIALS, co-sponsored by Harvard and NYU Schools of Law. This is a 5-week summer program that takes place in alternative years at Harvard and NYU Schools of Law for students "of modest means who come from backgrounds that are currently underrepresented at the nation's top law schools." This is a program that defines diversity very broadly! Students from BW are exactly the kind of students they are looking for. In addition to LSAT prep, students participate in seminars on legal careers and networking. The application process starts in October of your junior year.
AMAZING LAW SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Marshall-Motley Scholars Program, sponsored by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. This program is a full scholarship to law school for students who are interested in serving as civil rights lawyers in the south after they graduate from law school. Applications are due the February before starting law school (so February of your senior year).
For more information on any of these programs, contact Professor Barb Palmer, BW's Director of Legal Studies and Pre-Law Advising, at bpalmer@bw.edu.