AccessLex
University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law, The “Law as Influence, Law as Change” Program
Program: Diversity Pipeline Intervention Grant Program
Grantee: University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law
Grant Amount: $215,832
Summary of Grant Outcomes
The “Law as Influence, Law as Change” (LAILAC) program aimed to promote interest in the legal professional among historically underrepresented and minoritized college students within the Four Corners states of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona. The summer immersive program had a particular emphasis on students attending Utah State University Blanding (“USU Blanding”) and those who identified as Native American. The 2023 cohort spent two weeks at USU Blanding and two weeks at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. The 2024 cohort was consolidated entirely in Salt Lake City for a more optimal and cohesive learning experience.
The curriculum was designed to expose participants to the rigors and demands of law school and a legal career. Over the course of four weeks, participants received academic instruction, law school admissions sessions, LSAT preparation, professional development workshops, and experiential learning. All participants were exposed to the same programming without differential treatment. Findings gleaned from the program evaluation suggest that LAILAC proved successful in meeting its goal of increasing appeal of the legal profession across the two cohorts.
- A total of 29 participants from diverse backgrounds completed LAILAC. The 2023 cohort had fewer participants (n=9) than the 2024 cohort (n=20). Fifteen participants identified as first-generation college students. Eight participants were enrolled members of the Navajo Nation.
- Participants made small gains on the LSAT. The 2024 cohort improved their performance on the practice LSAT by three points, with an average final score of 146 and a median of 148.
- Participants across both cohorts overwhelmingly expressed strong and clear intentions to attend law school before and after their participation in the program. Seventeen participants’ intentions to attend law school remained strong after finishing the program.