LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION COUNCIL

THE EVOLUTION OF THE LSAC ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE

LSAC ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TRAINING WORKSHOPJUNE 13-16, 2012DENVER, COLORADO

PRESENTER:KENT D. LOLLISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DIVERSITYINITIATIVES

OUTLINE

• HISTORY

• EARLY CHALLENGES

• WHAT DIDN’T WORK

• CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGAL EDUCATION

HISTORY

• ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN LEGAL EDUCATION

• ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND BAR PASSAGE

• CONSISTENT WITH LSAC MISSION AND CORE COMPETENCIES

• STUDENTS PREFORM BETTER WHEN THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY ACCLIMATED TO THE ACADEMIC RIGORS OF LAW SCHOOL

EARLY CHALLENGES

• THE LSAT

• ADDING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD OF LAW SCHOOLS

• FEAR OF BACKLASH FROM STUDENTS NOT PART OF THE PART OF THE PROGRAM

• PROGRAM STIGMA

• TEACHING BLACKLETTER LAW

• LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT

WHAT DIDN’T WORK

• CREATE A “MODEL” ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

• PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

• DEVELOPING A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PUBLICATION.

• LIMITING A PROGRAM TO STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS

CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGAL EDUCATION

• CHANGED THE DISCOURSE ABOUT SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL

• FORCED THE ACADEMY TO CHANGE ITS HISTORICAL VIEWS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING

• RETHINING ADMISSION CRITERIA AND PROCESSES

• ADVANCING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN THE LAW SCHOOL CLASSROOM

• REFOCUSED LAW SCHOOL ACCREDITATION