LEAD: Law Exploration Advancing Diversity

A law school pipeline program is designed to support aspiring law students to discern their goals, build important and relevant skills, and understand best practices when it comes to the law school application process.  Pipeline programs provide important opportunities to network with law schools and with others who share similar goals and interests.  A law school pipeline program should be built into your experiential learning plan if possible.

Each program is different. They range from rising sophomores through alumni. Most programs take all majors. Read the qualifications area of each program carefully to determine when it would fit into your plans.

Most programs are FREE and some include stipends and cover travel expenses and costs of living. Think about it - you could get paid to prepare for law school!

Each program has different deadlines. Most take place over the summer, but not all. When you are researching programs, take note of when their application opens, the deadlines, and what application materials are needed. Request letters of recommendation early. Ask for application support from your pre-law advisors.

There are a couple of great resources to help you search through all of the available programs and filter for those based on your interests:

1. AccessLex Directory - The AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Program Directory is an online database designed to help prospective law students and pre-law advisors identify pipeline programs serving college students and/or college graduates from historically underrepresented groups with information and resources premised on aiding their successful matriculation into law school and the legal profession. The best programs are collaborative and provide meaningful and holistic content, experiences and support, and are designed to yield measurable outcomes and scalable best practices.
2. American Bar Association Directory - The ABA Council for Diversity in the Educational Pipeline and the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) created the Pipeline Diversity Directory in response to the critical need to increase diversity in the educational pipeline leading to the profession.
3. Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Programs (PLUS) - The LSAC PLUS Program offers aspiring legal professionals a window about what to expect in law school and supportive insights about the law school enrollment journey.The PLUS Program is specifically aimed at rising undergraduate sophomores and juniors from minoritized groups who are underrepresented in the legal profession. However, anyone can apply and, during the application process, applicants have the opportunity to demonstrate ways in which they can benefit from the program.

1. Penn Law Outreach Program: Applying to and Succeeding in Law School - This program, held each spring is designed to assist high potential undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds with their preparation for admission to law school. Program participants receive mentoring, LSAT/application information, and workshops to build skills. Applications typically open at the end of the fall semester and are due in mid-January. Please contact the pre-law program for more information.
2. St. John’s University School of Law Ronald H. Brown Prep Program for College Students - This program provides $1,000 stipend for attendees. Those who are admitted receive support and information around successful applications and will help students build relevant skills for their success in law school.
3. Donald J. Weidner Summer for Undergraduates - This program brings to campus undergraduate students from throughout the country for a month-long immersion into legal study. The program covers three primary areas: classroom experience (daily classes taught by law professors), law school admissions (meeting with admission staff, LSAT preparation), and careers in law (visits to FL Supreme Court, local law firms, moot court). This program is typically held in June.