LexPostBacc Program

LexPostBacc is our innovative diversity pathway program that is directly focused on preparing aspiring law students for the academic and financial rigors of law school. The program provides law schools with a means of broadening access to legal education to promising applicants who are likely to benefit from additional preparation and exposure prior to starting law school.

LexPostBacc Scholars are exposed to a rigorous law school prep curriculum. After successfully completing the program curriculum, Scholars enroll in the law school that referred them to the program, with a scholarship and a stipend.

The goal of LexPostBacc is to provide law schools with a means of offering deferred admission to promising applicants who may need additional preparation for the rigors of law school.

During the 2024-25 law school admission cycle, participating law schools will be able to offer deferred fall 2026 admission to applicants, conditioned on the applicants’ completion of the LexPostBacc curriculum. The curriculum will span July 2025 through June 2026 and will focus on building analytical and critical thinking skills as the foundations of competent legal analysis and writing. There are no program costs, either for law schools or LexPostBacc Scholars.

To participate in the LexPostBacc program, applicants must:

Be referred by a participating law school
- There is also a direct application version of LexPostBacc. Learn more about LexPostBacc Direct.
Be members of either (or both) of the following groups:
- First-generation bachelor’s degree graduate
- Pell Grant recipient as an undergraduate
Possess a bachelor’s degree or will receive a bachelor’s degree by August 2025
Have an LSAT score no higher than the 25th percentile among the national pool of test takers (as reflected on the CAS report)
Have not previously enrolled in a J.D. program at an ABA-approved law school
Commit to enroll at the referring law school, upon successful completion of the program

Scholars who successfully complete the LexPostBacc curriculum and enroll in their referring law school will receive:

Fall 2026 admission by the law school that offered deferred admission
A non-conditional, renewable scholarship award of at least 20% tuition from the law school that offered deferred admission
A $7,500 stipend from AccessLex Institute^® (paid in installments: $500 upon successful completion of the program followed by a total of $7,000 over the course of law school study)
A Helix Bar Review by AccessLex^®course, upon graduation

read less

From July 2025 through June 2026, LexPostBacc Scholars will be exposed to a rigorous law school prep curriculum that will focus on building analytical and critical thinking skills as the foundations of competent legal analysis and writing. Scholars will also receive financial education. Schools may opt to require Scholars to retake the LSAT during the program cycle, with the benefit of a full-length Kaplan online LSAT course.

Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills
- Scholars will complete a curriculum of online lessons, including Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) learning modules covering:
  - Substantive topics: Contracts, Criminal Law, Torts
  - Skills: interpreting and briefing cases, understanding common terminology, legal writing, note-taking, outlining, reading comprehension, rule synthesis, statutory interpretation, time management
- Scholars will complete formative and summative assessments consisting of short answer, essay, and multiple-choice problems
Financial Education and Literacy
- Scholars will be exposed to a financial education curriculum consisting of:
  - MAX Pre-Law by AccessLex^®
  - Tailored webinars and information sessions
LSAT Prep
- Schools may opt to require Scholars to retake the LSAT during the program cycle
- Scholars who are required to retake the LSAT during the program will:
  - Take a full-length Kaplan online LSAT course, beginning in July 2025 (cost included with the program)
  - Be required to retake the LSAT during the time period, September 2025 through January 2026
  - Have the LSAT registration fee reimbursed by AccessLex, if the test is taken in September 2025

The LexPostBacc curriculum will require Scholars to dedicate an estimated 10-15 hours of effort per week completing lessons, exercises, and assessments. (This estimate does not include LSAT prep.) Scholars will also be required to attend mandatory virtual class sessions. The curriculum will be mostly formative in nature, with a goal of fostering deep learning and engagement through robust feedback and guidance.

At stipulated points during the program, participating law schools will receive progress reports regarding the Scholars they referred. These reports will include information pertaining to Scholar engagement with the curriculum and progress towards completion. Some attrition and unsuccessful attempts at completing the curriculum are expected.

read less

For the 2024-25 law school admission cycle, deferred admission offers should provide a pathway to admission into the fall 2026 entering law school class. In order to refer applicants to LexPostBacc, law schools must submit an Intent to Refer Form to AccessLex Institute^® by March 31, 2025. (This form is for law schools only.) Note: The referral cycle for the program is closed.

Below is the referral process:

Identify an applicant for possible referral to the program
Verify closely that the applicant meets the program eligibility requirements
If the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, determine if the applicant will be required to retake the LSAT during the program.
Make the fall 2026 admission offer communicating:
- The deferred nature of the offer, including the condition that the applicant completes the LexPostBacc curriculum
- The terms of the non-conditional, renewable scholarship offer
- The $7,500 stipend offer from AccessLex Institute^®
- A request for permission to share the applicant’s biographical and contact information with AccessLex Institute^®
After receiving permission to share the applicant’s information, complete the LexPostBacc Applicant Referral Form (link will be forwarded to participating schools). All law school referrals must be made by May 16, 2025.

Applicants must complete the LexPostBacc Application no later than May 23, 2025. Schools may set earlier deadlines, taking care to give applicants sufficient time to consider the offer.

Upon timely submission of the LexPostBacc Application, AccessLex Institute^® staff will verify that the applicant meets LexPostBacc eligibility requirements. After verification, the applicant will be offered a LexPostBacc slot, and the referring law school will be notified.
- To accept the offer, applicants will be required to sign a Participation Agreement by a stated date, certifying that they are no longer pursuing admission to other law schools and will not submit any new law school applications for at least 18 months.

read less

The 46 members of the first cohort of LexPostBacc Scholars recently completed their first semester of law school at 22 referring schools.

Below is law school outcomes data for the 2022-23 LexPostBacc cohort, as of the end of their first year:

37/46 (80%) are in good standing
- 11/46 (24%) have GPAs of 3.0 or higher
9/46 (20%) are on academic probation (3) or been dismissed (6)

LexPostBacc provides law schools with a means of broadening access to legal education to promising applicants who are likely to benefit from additional preparation and exposure prior to starting law school. The above trends reflect much hard work, resilience, and ability on the parts of the Scholars. They also reflect commitment by referring law schools to challenge and support Scholars. The trends should be interpreted keeping in mind that each law school’s learning environment is unique.

read less

Past LexPostBacc Schools

Southwestern Law School
Suffolk University Law School
The Catholic University of America
The University of Akron School of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
University of Idaho College of Law
University of North Texas College of Law
University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law
University of St. Thomas School of Law – Minneapolis
University of the District of Columbia – David A. Clarke School of Law
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Western New England University School of Law
Widener University Delaware Law Schoo

Past LexPostBacc Schools

California Western School of Law
City University of New York School of Law
Creighton School of Law
Florida International University College of Law
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Liberty University School of Law
Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law
Oklahoma City University
Penn State Dickinson Law
Quinnipiac University School of Law
Roger Williams University School of Law
Samford University's Cumberland School of Law
Southwestern Law School
Suffolk University Law School
The Catholic University of America
The University of Akron School of Law
University of Cincinnati College of Law
University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
University of Idaho College of Law
University of North Texas College of Law
University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law
University of St. Thomas School of Law – Minneapolis
University of the District of Columbia – David A. Clarke School of Law
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
Vermont Law and Graduate School
Western New England University School of Law
Widener University Delaware Law School

Law schools will be added periodically.

Questions? Read our FAQs or contact us at LexScholars@accesslex.org.

LexPostBacc Program

Preparation for law school coursework.

Better diversity in schools makes schools better.

Program Design

Program Curriculum

Referral and Selection Processes

LexPostBacc Scholars Outcomes