AccessLex: Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program

The AccessLex Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program aims to support initiatives that facilitate the entry of college students from historically underrepresented groups into law school. By providing funding of $200,000 to $300,000 over 12 to 24 months, the program seeks to improve enrollment and success rates for these students. AccessLex Institute emphasizes research-backed strategies and collaborative programs to enhance educational outcomes 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 over $850 million in total net assets.
The Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program 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 central goal of the Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program 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, we seek to fund collaborative programs that provide participants with meaningful content and experiences as well as holistic support.

Eligibility

To be fundable, programs must:Have a duration of 12‒24 months and seek funding in the amount of $200,000‒$300,000Focus on college students and/or college graduates from underrepresented racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgroundsInclude clear statements of program goals and tangible and measurable objectivesMust be premised on preparing participants for the law school admission process and/or law schoolProgram components must be aligned with goals and objectivesInclude an evaluation planMust be tied directly to goals, objectives, and expected outcomesMust be designed using valid data collection and analytical techniquesMust include methods for tracking participants up to some endpoint that transcends the program itself (e.g., end of the admission cycle)Must include methods for documenting relevant outcomes (e.g., participant law school admission outcomes)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 organizationThe Diversity Pathway Intervention Grant Program is intended to support well-designed evaluation. 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.