Better access makes schools better.
LexPostBacc Referred is our innovative law school 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 Referred Scholars are exposed to a rigorous law school prep curriculum. After successfully completing the curriculum, Scholars enroll in the law school that referred them to the program, with a scholarship and a stipend.
Program Design
Program Design
The goal of LexPostBacc Referred 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 2026-27 law school admission cycle, participating law schools will be able to offer deferred fall 2028 admission to applicants, conditioned on the applicants’ completion of the LexPostBacc curriculum. The curriculum will span July 2027 through May 2028 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 Scholars.
To participate in LexPostBacc Referred, applicants must:
- Be referred by a participating law school
- There is also a direct application version of LexPostBacc Referred. Learn more about LexPostBacc Direct.
- Have an LSAT score no higher than the 25th percentile among the national pool of test takers (as reflected on the CAS report)
- Possess a bachelor’s degree or will receive a bachelor’s degree by August 2027
- 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 2028 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 and bar exam study)
- A Helix Bar Review by AccessLex® course, upon graduation
Program Curriculum
Program Curriculum
From July 2027 through May 2028, LexPostBacc Referred 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
- Scholars will complete a curriculum of online lessons, including Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) learning modules covering:
- 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
- Scholars will be exposed to a financial education curriculum consisting of:
- 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 (provided at no cost), beginning in July 2027
- Be required to retake the LSAT during the time period, September 2027 through January 2028
- Have the LSAT registration fee reimbursed by AccessLex, if the test is taken in September 2027
The LexPostBacc curriculum will require Scholars to dedicate an estimated 15 hours of effort per week to complete 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.
Referral and Selection Processes
Referral and Selection Processes
For the 2026-27 law school admission cycle, deferred admission offers should provide a pathway to admission into the fall 2028 entering law school class. In order to refer applicants to LexPostBacc Referred, law schools must submit an Intent to Refer Form to AccessLex Institute by March 31, 2027. (This form is for law schools only.)
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 2028 admission offer and communicate:
- 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 14, 2027.
Applicants must complete the LexPostBacc Referred Application no later than May 24, 2027. Schools may set earlier deadlines, taking care to give applicants sufficient time to consider the offer.
- Upon timely submission of the LexPostBacc Referred Application, AccessLex Institute staff will verify that the applicant meets eligibility requirements. After verification, the applicant will be offered a LexPostBacc Referred 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.
Law schools can qualify for a LexScholars Engagement Grant
Law schools can qualify for a LexScholars Engagement Grant
and receive up to $15,000 to support efforts to engage and recruit prospective law students who could benefit from participating in a LexScholars program.
Questions? Read our FAQs for participating Scholars or FAQs for participating law schools; or contact us at [email protected].