AccessLex
The legal profession is the least diverse profession in the country. Let’s change that.
The 2021 application cycle is now open!
The 2021 application cycle is now open!
125 spots remain.
125 spots remain.
Overview
LexScholars is a diversity pipeline initiative aimed at learning more about effective methods for increasing law school diversity by providing more than 1,200 aspiring lawyers with resources and guidance to pursue their goal of attending law school.
LexScholars targets prospective law students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds who possess potential for law school success but may be unlikely to gain admission due to unfavorable standardized test scores.
LexScholars participants will have endured and overcome disadvantages and will have clear, preferably demonstrated, commitments to pursuing admission to law school.
LexScholars participants will benefit from access to various resources, including LSAT preparation; law school admission counseling; financial education; and writing skills development. There are no costs associated with LexScholars. Some participants will receive stipends and other financial aid.
LexScholars is a diversity pipeline initiative aimed at learning more about effective methods for increasing law school diversity by providing more than 1,200 aspiring lawyers with resources and guidance to pursue their goal of attending law school.
LexScholars targets prospective law students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds who possess potential for law school success but may be unlikely to gain admission due to unfavorable standardized test scores.
LexScholars participants will have endured and overcome disadvantages and will have clear, preferably demonstrated, commitments to pursuing admission to law school.
LexScholars participants will benefit from access to various resources, including LSAT preparation; law school admission counseling; financial education; and writing skills development. There are no costs associated with LexScholars. Some participants will receive stipends and other financial aid.
As a condition of participation, LexScholars participants will allow AccessLex researchers to track their law school admission experiences and outcomes. This information will be used to aid their progression and develop diversity pipeline models that will benefit aspiring lawyers, the legal profession, and society. Participants will be required to complete a monthly survey detailing their experiences during the law school admission process. The monthly survey will be forwarded to participants via email, beginning in September and continuing through August of the following year. The participant research agreement will outline the complete scope of ongoing obligations and responsibilities associated with LexScholars participation. See a copy of the research agreement here.
Program Design
- Who will they be: 250 aspiring lawyers who have obtained or will obtain a bachelor’s degree by August 2022 and plan to seek law school admission for the Fall 2022 entering class.
- What will they receive:
LSAT Prep and Admission Counseling Group (50 participants):
- Online Kaplan LSAT course, starting on August 1, 2021
- Ongoing admission counseling throughout the application process, starting on July 1, 2021
- Ongoing access to financial education and law school informational resources
LSAT Prep Only Group (200 participants):
- Kaplan LSAT course, starting on August 1, 2021
- Ongoing access to financial education and law school informational resources
- How will they be selected: LexScholars slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants who submit all required materials earlier in the application cycle will have the best chances of being selected for the program. Applicants will identify their preferred participant Group on their application. When all slots in the LSAT Prep and Admission Counseling Group are filled, pending applicants for that Group will be automatically considered for available slots in the LSAT Prep Only Group.
Eligibility
During the 2021-2022 cycle, LexScholars will enroll 250 participants. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a member of a racial, ethnic, and/or socioeconomic group that is underrepresented in legal education.
- Possess a bachelor’s degree or will receive a bachelor’s degree by August 2022.
- Plan to seek law school admission for the Fall 2022 entering class.
- Have an LSAT score no higher than the 25th percentile.
- Have not previously enrolled in a J.D. program at an ABA-approved law school.
- And submit all required application materials while slots are still available.
All applicants will be required to agree to the terms outlined in the Applicant Consent Form, and to consent to the terms of AccessLex's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
LexScholars Application
Applying to LexScholars is a two-part process:
The Preliminary Application
A preliminary application must be completed to determine initial eligibility for the program. The preliminary application can be completed by anyone and will be accessible on this webpage starting March 15, 2021.
For the Preliminary Application, the following is needed:
- Basic information regarding the applicant’s age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, and family background;
- Basic information about the applicant’s educational background, including the zip code of the applicant’s high school and cumulative undergraduate GPA (from the college/university that awarded or will award the applicant’s bachelor’s degree);
- The applicant’s highest LSAT score (or ACT, GRE, SAT, or GMAT score, if the applicant has not taken the LSAT);
- The amount and term of the applicant’s latest Pell Grant award (if the applicant is claiming such award);
- An email address where the applicant can receive LexScholars information (including a link to the final application); and
- The names and email addresses of 2 to 3 recommenders.
Preliminary Applications are reviewed by program staff on a rolling basis, generally within three business days of submission. If you meet the preliminary eligibility criteria, you will be emailed a unique link to submit the Final Application.
The Final Application
A link to the Final Application will be delivered to eligible applicants via email upon a determination of eligibility.
In the Final Application, applicants must upload an academic transcript and standardized test (e.g., LSAT, ACT, SAT) score report. Upon submission of the Final Application, each recommender listed in your Preliminary Application will be emailed a link to the Recommender Assessment form.
For the Final Application, the following is needed:
- a clear electronic copy of the applicant’s college/university transcript (from the college/university where the applicant obtained/will obtain a bachelor’s degree) to be uploaded to the application; and
- a clear electronic copy of the applicant’s LSAT score report (ACT, GRE, GMAT, or SAT are also accepted, if applicant has not taken the LSAT) to be uploaded to the application
You will be considered for selection once your Final Application and at least two Recommender Assessment forms are submitted on your behalf.
LexScholars participants are selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you submit all required application materials (including the Final Application and Recommender Assessments), the better your chances of being selected.
View the recording of The Who, What, When, Where and Why of LexScholars webinar or download the presentation slides.
Important Dates
Application Opens: March 15
Application Deadline: Slots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. The sooner you apply, the better.
Admission Counseling Starts: July 1
Kaplan LSAT Online Course Opens: August 1
Selection Process
Eligible LexScholars applicants will be selected for the program in the order in which they submit all required application documents, including two recommender assessments.
- LSAT Prep and Admission Counseling Group: The first 50 applicants to submit all required documents and select this Group as their preference will receive a free online Kaplan LSAT course, comprehensive law school admission counseling, and ongoing access to financial education and law school informational resources.
- LSAT Prep Only Group: The first 200 applicants to submit all required documents and select this Group as their preference will receive a free online Kaplan LSAT course and ongoing access to financial education and law school informational resources. Applicants who are not chosen for the LSAT Prep and Admission Counseling Group will be considered for these slots.
Applicants who submit all required materials earlier in the application cycle will have the best chances of being selected for the program. Applicants will identify their preferred participant Group on their application.
For more information on the LexScholars by AccessLex® program, eligibility or the application process, please review our FAQs page. Or, email us questions on any aspect of the LexScholars program at LexScholars@accesslex.org.