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IU McKinney has been chosen to take part in the LexScholars Post-Baccalaureate Program. This is the program’s first year, and the law school joins 35 others in the effort to increase enrollment and academic success among underrepresented students. There are no program costs either to the students or the law schools involved.

IU McKinney will select up to 10 students who were not admitted during the most-recent law school admissions cycle and seek their permission to nominate them for the program, said Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management Julie Smith. They will be offered deferred admission and upon successful completion of the program will be admitted to the law school’s fall 2023 class. To learn more, visit the LexScholars website.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to participate in AccessLex’s innovative program,” said IU McKinney Dean Karen E. Bravo. “The goals of improving access to legal education aligns with IU McKinney’s mission and philosophy and will augment our own robust pipeline efforts.”

IU McKinney hosts its Summer Law & Leadership Program over one week each summer to introduce undergraduate students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to law school and the variety of career paths a legal education affords. The law school also offers Pathway to the Law for undergraduate students who are interested in law school. This program provides courses aimed at preparing students for the rigors of law school and offers mentorship relationships with law students and legal professionals.

“I am thrilled IU McKinney will be among the law schools to participate with the inaugural group when AccessLex launches its new post-baccalaureate program this year,” said Assistant Dean of Diversity and Inclusion Patricia Kinney, ’02. “This proactive effort also signals the law school’s commitment to diversifying the profession. The program is a proxy for integrating many different forms of diversity, where no one is excluded as long as they meet the outlined eligibility requirements. They are specifically targeting demographics that are known to be underrepresented. The students who fit the specific eligibility requirements will have other identities, which may be other marginalized identities, such as disability, LGBTQIA+, lower socio-economic, etc.” 

LexScholars post-baccalaureate curriculum will run from July 2022 to July 2023. Students will focus on LSAT preparation and begin a full-length Kaplan online LSAT course in July 2022; they must retake the LSAT at least once between September 2022 and January 2023. Students also will complete a curriculum of CALI online lessons covering civil procedure, constitutional law, contracts, criminal law, property law, and torts. They will learn to interpret and brief cases, understand common terminology, and improve note-taking and outlining, among other skills. Students also will focus on financial education through the MAX Pre-Law program. The program will require students to devote between 8 and 12 hours per week to completing lessons, exercises, and assessments.  Students who matriculate into law school will receive a 20% tuition scholarship from the law school, a $3000 stipend from AccessLex, and a Helix Bar Review course.