Undergraduate students interested in law are eligible to apply for Wayne State University Law School's new Damon J. Keith Pre-Law Summer Institute, thanks to a grant of more than $59,000 from AccessLex Institute.
The six-week summer program, which is free to all participants, is open to rising juniors and seniors who are pursuing an undergraduate degree at any institution. Sophomores participating in a 3+3 program at Wayne State or Oakland University are also eligible to apply. Applicants must have graduated from a Detroit Public Schools Community District Public High School.
"We are very grateful to the AccessLex Institute for their support of this unique opportunity at Wayne Law," said Wayne Law Dean Richard A. Bierschbach. "To host this program at the Law School in the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights is particularly meaningful. We look forward to a summer filled with robust programming and opportunities that will give graduates of Detroit Public Schools exclusive insight into law school and the legal profession before they even fill out their applications."
This first-of-its kind program at Wayne State is named for Judge Damon J. Keith, who for more than 50 years on the federal bench persuasively and movingly defended the Constitution and helped communities enforce their civil rights.
"The central goal of our Diversity Pipeline Research Grant Program," said Christopher P. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of AccessLex Institute, "is to increase the knowledge base around effective methods for increasing the enrollment and success of law students from historically underrepresented racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Not only will the participants in this initiative have access to a wealth of valuable resources at Wayne Law, but we will be able to evaluate the impact this access has and hopefully derive from it ways to create a template for successful diversity pipeline programs."
Applications are being accepted now and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, visit go.wayne.edu/djk-institute.
Participants will be selected by a committee at Wayne Law that will evaluate applicants based on their academic qualifications, statement of personal interest, and level of commitment to pursuing a legal career upon graduation.
Benefits of participation include:
- Full in-person LSAT test preparation program provided by Kaplan
- $500 stipend awarded upon successful completion of the program to cover LSAT registration expenses
- Opportunities to connect with mentors in the Detroit legal community and with current Wayne Law students
- Visits to local law firms, federal, state, and local courts, public interest firms and organizations
- Instructional sessions presented by Wayne Law faculty and staff on topics such as: legal writing, academic success, financial literacy, professionalism, and the law school application and admissions process
- Access to Wayne State University resources
- Team-building and social events
For additional information, contact Assistant Dean of Student Affairs Meghan Short, meghanshort@wayne.edu, or Associate Director of Admissions and Diversity Recruitment Justin Williams, jmwilliams@wayne.edu.
Published: Thu, Mar 05, 2020
