AccessLex Institute

Do questions about your legal education leave you feeling snowed in? EDNA and her paw-some sidekick, Purrgood, have the answers to dig you out! Ask EDNA! – The Education Network at AccessLex – is the comprehensive platform for financial coaching, events, and tools from #prelaw through #barprep – 100% free from AccessLex. This winter, get all your questions answered through #AskEDNA! – create your FREE account today!  https://ow.ly/byxs50UsUzL

The AccessLex policy and advocacy arm is critical to our mission to improve legal education through increased access and affordability. With this goal in mind, our experts: ◾ Formulate federal policy recommendations and positions; ◾ Research and report on federal policy concerns; and ◾ Assist student advocates with our #MakeTheCase resources. Learn more about how our policy and advocacy efforts impact legal education (and how you can, too!). https://ow.ly/A2xp50UsVxy

Don’t let the cost of tuition put the deep freeze on your legal education – come in from the cold with our Law School Scholarship Databank! This game-changing resource provides a listing of over 800 #scholarships and writing competitions totaling more than $3 MILLION in available aid. Begin your search today! https://ow.ly/tIxM50Us49Y

According to recent ABA data, racial and ethnic diversity in law school enrollment did not decline in 2024 despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban. In a new Reuters article, Aaron N. Taylor, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Legal Education Excellence, weighed in on the significance of the new enrollment numbers while recommending that long-term analysis of the ban is still needed. Check it out! https://ow.ly/WBfn50Utn0r

The AccessLex Gifts of Joy program was a resounding success this year. Through our area YMCAs, we collected over 200 gifts for 75 children in need in the West Chester, Pennsylvania area! Thank you to all who participated for their kindness and support and for making the holidays that much brighter for children in our community!

In her blog post, Logan Johnson, Policy Associate, emphasizes the importance of providing accessible and affordable #childcare for graduate and professional student-parents and caregivers and the critical role federal policy can play in supporting them. Read this post and review our recommendations today! https://ow.ly/VEG550Us2QY

The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) presents a unique opportunity to help students better manage the cost of an education and succeed in their chosen careers. In our comprehensive HEA report, AccessLex proposes: ◾ Policy and funding recommendations aimed at modernizing the student loan system; ◾ Reining in the cost of higher education for borrowers; and ◾ Promoting greater access to graduate and professional education. Read our recommendations today! https://ow.ly/GkWi50UsK0I

Thinking of pursuing a legal education? AccessLex is here to help you! By taking advantage of free resources available through our MAX Pre-Law program, aspiring lawyers can: ◾ Find the right law school with #XploreJD; ◾ Utilize the LexPreLaw program for support with the admission process; ◾ Search our Scholarship Databank for 800+ funding opportunities; ◾ Attend webinars on applying for law school and the #financialaid process; and ◾ Schedule financial coaching calls through #AccessConnex. Make your dreams of going to law school a reality – get started with your free MAX Pre-Law account! https://ow.ly/cBv750UrY7g

UC Berkeley Law Leads National Effort to Expand Law School Applicant Pool While 50% of UC Berkeley Law’s first-year class identify as students of color and 16% are the first in their family to receive a college degree, nationally it remains an uphill climb to diversify law schools — and the attorney ranks — with people from underrepresented backgrounds. This new "Preparing for Law School" project, partly funded by a grant from the AccessLex Foundation, aims to help change that. “We identified a problem with access to law school resources and wanted to demystify the process and create a more equitable pathway to the legal profession,” says Kristin Theis-Alvarez, UC Berkeley Law’s chief administrative officer and senior assistant dean – and former dean of admissions — who has spent years working to drive the project forward. “The program is constantly evolving and easily updated.” In these photos: - 3L Rebecca Goren (right) listens to 2L Abby Neal describe how law school gave her an immediate chance to work on critical environmental issues. - 2L Filmore Thomas, IV (right), co-chair of Berkeley's Law Students of African Descent chapter, discusses student leadership opportunities. 🔗 Photos by Laurie Frasier. Link to full story by Andrew Cohen in comments below.

The AccessLex Student Loan Calculator is our free, easy-to-use tool that breaks down the true costs of a legal education while helping you manage your finances, create a budget, and consider loan options. ◾ Calculating your borrowing needs? ◾ Mapping out your student loan commitment after graduation? ◾ Want to learn more about repayment options? The Calculator does it all – try it today! https://ow.ly/YsnJ50UnAZ4