Since launching our grantmaking activities in 2014, we have awarded over $21 million in support of our research priorities: access, affordability, and the value of legal education.
Awarded Grants
Grant Program
Grant Status
University of Houston Law Center
The University of Houston Law Center Pre-Law Pipeline program is designed to increase the diversity of law school applicants by providing law school preparatory resources–LSAT preparation, introductory law school classes, internships, and professional development sessions–for undergraduate students who are first generation, low income, or members of groups underrepresented in the legal profession. Grant funding will support the administration of the eight-week on-campus summer program and internship. Funding will also support expanded recruitment of students from minority serving institutions.
To read more, please visit http://www.law.uh.edu/pipeline/
Elon University School of Law
This grant studies the impact and benefits of its innovative new curriculum. Major components include shortening the general course of study to two and a half years, reducing cost by nearly 25 percent and enhancing the educational experience by requiring that all students complete substantial experiential learning components.
To read more, please visit Study: Lower debt, stronger diversity & improved outcomes at Elon Law
University of Pennsylvania
The Alliance for Higher Education and Democracy at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education received a grant to analyze the law school admissions market. A set of regression models were estimated for predicting the prices charged by law schools reporting data to the American Bar Association. Similarly, institutional characteristics such as LSAT scores, bar passage rates and employment outcomes were mapped.
American Bar Foundation
The American Bar Foundation received a grant award to follow up on the work of the American Bar Association Task Force on the Financing of Legal Education. The data that was collected as part of the Task Force’s work, in combination with other data and materials, will be fully analyzed in order to address challenges facing legal education.
UCLA School of Law
The UCLA Law Fellows program intends to demystify the law school experience for underrepresented minority students, economically disadvantaged students, and first generation students. Program activities include a series of monthly Saturday academies, support for an LSAT prep course, and continued support and guidance through the law school application process.
Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO)
The CLEO Legally Inspired Cohort (CLIC), aims to increase the number of diverse students who matriculate at an accredited law school and successfully complete their first year of law school. CLIC participants will attend one of four law schools accepting cohorts of five students. Participants will also attend a six-week prelaw summer institute, participate in a mentorship program, and attend a two-day seminar after the first semester.
To read more, please visit cleoinc.org
University of Wisconsin Law School
University of Wisconsin Law School, James E. Jones Jr. Pre-Law Scholars Program intends to help underrepresented minority students compete for admissions to law school, matriculate, graduate, and thrive in the practice of law. Scholars will participate in a four-week summer prelaw program focused on student preparedness.
To read more, please visit James E. Jones Jr. Four-Week Summer Pre-Law Scholars Program
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
The Native American Pipeline to Law Initiative at Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, seeks to increase the number of Native American law students. Program activities include a five-day prelaw program, financial support for LSAT prep courses, a mentorship program, and early outreach to middle and high schools with high Native American populations.
To read more, please visit Pipeline to Law Initiative
The Association of American Law Schools (AALS)
The AALS strove to communicate a more balanced and informed understanding of legal education to key groups outside the legal academy including policymakers, leaders of the bar and bench, the media, prospective law students, and the general public. This grant from AccessLex Institute supported the general operation and implementation of this project.
To read more, please visit AALS Receives Access Group Grant to Support Public Outreach Efforts