AccessLex: Bar Success Research Grant Program

The AccessLex Bar Success Research Grant Program aims to fund innovative and rigorous studies focused on the bar examination, including predictors of performance and effective preparation methodologies. By encouraging collaborations among educational institutions and stakeholders, the program seeks to enhance bar passage rates for at-risk students. Grants ranging from $150,000 to $300,000 are available for projects lasting 12 to 24 months, promoting well-designed research that addresses critical issues in legal education.

About AccessLex Institute
We are steadfast in our commitment to inform students of the economic realities of law school without limiting their aspirations. We conduct and commission research to illuminate the latest data and evidence on the most critical issues facing legal education today. And we are resolute in our appeal to policymakers and influencers to take actions that make legal education work better for both students and society at large. As a nonprofit organization underpinned by nearly 200 American Bar Association-approved nonprofit and state-affiliated law schools, we are intently dedicated to the betterment of legal education. AccessLex Institute is headquartered in West Chester, PA. We currently have $800 million in total net assets.
The Bar Success Research Grant Program funds well-designed and rigorous studies of the bar examination. Examples of focus include predictors of bar exam performance; bar exam test design and/or efficacy; and successful study or preparation methodologies. Proposals focusing on other relevant aspects of the bar exam are also welcomed.
We encourage applications from programs that display a collaborative approach and strong partnerships with other organizations to achieve the goal of improving bar passage rates among students and graduates at-risk of not passing. Meaningful collaborations with and between member institutions, existing academic support programs, academic and bar success programs, and other stakeholders in law school academic success programs are acceptable.

Eligibility

To be fundable, projects must:Have a duration of 12‒24 months and seek funding in the amount of $150,000‒$300,000.Have a clear research design, using appropriate methodologies.AccessLex will review grant proposals only from U.S.-based tax-exempt non-profit educational institutions and other nonprofit and public organizations. Faculty members, practitioners and researchers may apply for grants through their eligible affiliated organization. The Bar Success Research Grant Program is intended to support well-designed and rigorous studies of the bar examination.
Incentives or stipends may be allowed pursuant to a well-designed proposal.AccessLex will accept more than one proposal from an organization as long as no duplicate proposals should be submitted for a specific project.Existing programs are required to provide information pertaining to outcomes in the application.AccessLex reserves the right to modify or cancel this Policy at any time without notice.

Ineligibility

AccessLex will not review proposals from for-profit organizations or individuals.No relatives (defined for this purpose as parents, children, spouses, siblings or in-laws) of Officers or Directors of AccessLex are eligible to apply for a grant.Applicants may not allocate more than 10 percent of their total direct costs to indirect costs.Grant funds may not be used for religious, lobbying, political activities or to support litigation.