From the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC): "Access to justice is essential for a democratic society, and diversity in the legal profession increases the likelihood of access for people from an increasingly diverse population."
Law schools and the law profession are committed to diversifying the profession's population across multiple constructs such as race, ethnicity, LGBTQIA status, gender, age, ability, geographic region and socioeconomic status. Both recognize there is a long way to go. Please see resources below regarding diversity in law and population-specific resources.
LSAC section: Diversity in Law School: Offers resources, data and answers to questions related to diverse candidates.
Association of American Law Schools: Law Deans Antiracist Clearinghouse Project: A resource that outlines how American law schools are responding to racism in the United States.
CLEO, Inc. (Council On Legal Education Opportunity): CLEO is a long-standing organization that provides resources and programs targeted but not restricted to minority and low-income students.
LGBTQ & Law School: Informative page organized by LSAC that offers personal stories, application advice and resources.
Diversity-focused Summer Prelaw Programs
Chicago-Kent College of Law Pre-Law Undergraduate Scholars Program (PLUS)
Florida State College of Law Donald J Weidner Summer for Undergraduates
PLUS (Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars program): for rising sophomores and juniors – LSAC PLUS programs are designed for underrepresented in law school, but all students are welcome to apply. The program is free and students receive a $1,000 stipend.
Prelaw Summer Institute for American Indians and Alaskan Natives
St. John's University Ronald H. Brown Law School Prep Program for College Students
TRIALS (Training and Recruitment Initiative for Admission to Leading Law Schools) - Joint program between Harvard and NYU schools of law.
Other Prelaw Summer Programs