The underrepresentation of minoritized groups in the legal profession has been a longstanding and serious problem in this country. For this reason, law schools are actively recruiting underrepresented and disadvantaged applicants and have established policies to assure that qualified candidates are given the opportunity for a legal education.
You should make certain to identify yourself as a member of a minority group at the time you register for the LSAT and with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This will enable interested law schools to contact you through the Candidate Referral Service. The Law School Admissions Council also sponsors hundreds of “Diversity Matters” events and programs to encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to consider law as a career. Many of these programs are free of cost, which enables access to justice for all. You can find information about many of these programs on the following links:
Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) – national organization that seeks to expand opportunities for minority and low income students to attend law school, by offering a number of prelaw programs that target different populations - first years, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and graduates.
PreProBono Fellowship – fellowship program that provides LSAT instruction, admissions consulting, leadership building, and networking opportunities.
LatinoJustice LAWbound – summer or winter academy that provides mentorship, networking, and comprehensive programming that improves access to law schools.
Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools (TRIALS) – partnership between Harvard Law, NYU Law, and Advantage Testing Foundation, to subsidize summer study program for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
DiscoverLaw.org Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars (PLUS) Program – targeted four-week programs for college students in their first two years of college, that provides focus on the skills required to succeed in law school.
LSAT/Law School Prep Conference – offered by the New York City Bar Association, this program includes information from the LSAT through the first year of law school.
Free LSAT Boot Camp Pace Law – Over two evening sessions, participants receive six hours of free, substantive LSAT instruction.
Minority Prelaw Conference at Rutgers Law – for undergraduate students who are interested in learning about law school admissions, LSAT preparation, personal statements, and life as a law student.
Sidley Prelaw Scholars Program – summer program for juniors and seniors that aims to subsidize the LSAT preparatory course and law school application expenses.
Diversity Scholarships – list of scholarship opportunities available for students from underrepresented backgrounds.
AccessLex Diversity Pipeline Program Directory – online database designed to help prospective law students identify pipeline programs serving students from underrepresented groups.
Khan Academy – LSAC and Khan Academy partner to offer free and personalized LSAT test preparation.