AccessLex Institute Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program

AccessLex Institute aims to foster broad-based access to quality legal education for talented, purpose-driven students and works to maximize the value and affordability of a law degree through policy advocacy, research, and student-focused initiatives.

To that end, the institute invites applications for its Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program which provides funding to programs and initiatives aimed at helping college students and/or college graduates from historically underrepresented groups successfully matriculate into law school and the legal profession. The program's central goal is to increase the knowledge base around effective methods for increasing the enrollment and success of law students from historically underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Accordingly, the institute seeks to fund collaborative programs that provide participants with meaningful content and experiences and holistic support.

The grant program will provide grants between $200,000 and $300,000 over up to 24 months to support programs focused on college students and/or college graduates from underrepresented racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgrounds. Programs that also encompass the following optional elements will be given preference in the selection process: focused on participants who are seeking to begin law school within two years of the start of the desired grant period and have not yet received an admission offer; focused on participants with low standardized test scores and/or grades; differential treatment of participants (treatment/control group methodology) for purposes of program evaluation; relevant long-term support for participants; and collaboration with other institutions, organizations, etc.

AccessLex will review grant proposals from its member law schools and other United States-based nonprofit and public organizations which are classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and as “public” charities under section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) or to public organizations that are designated under section 170(c). Faculty, practitioners, and researchers who are U.S. citizens or residents are eligible for grants through their affiliated organization, provided it maintains a qualified tax-exempt status as described above.

Letters of inquiry will be accepted starting January 25, 2023, until March 1, 2023, and upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal, due July 28, 2023.

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the AccessLex Institute website.