Editor's note: Out of concern for the health and safety of the community, as well as the uncertainty of the evolving COVID-19 situation, the School of Law has decided to cancel this summer’s residential program. It is working closely with the Law School Admission Council to explore alternative ways to deliver the law school experience and learning offered by the PLUS Program.
The University of Oregon School of Law will use a $300,000 grant to launch a new program that will help underrepresented students prepare for law school and a legal career.
The award from the Law School Admission Council will be used to create a PreLaw Undergraduate Scholars Program at Oregon Law. Over the next three years it will be one of seven universities in the United States to offer the program.
The goal of the program is to provide intensive focus on the skills required to succeed — in law school, the law school admission process and a career in law — to 20 college students from groups that are underrepresented in the legal profession.
“We are excited to partner with LSAC so that students get exposure to the study of the law through coursework and hands-on learning opportunities,” said Marcilynn A. Burke, dean and Dave Frohnmayer Chair in Leadership and Law. “Students will not only explore a wide variety of legal career paths, they will be able to enhance their leadership and community engagement skills as well as gain essential insight into the law school application and admissions process.”
The program runs July 6-31 and is provided at no cost to the participants. This includes room and board as well as a $1,000 stipend, all covered by the admissions council grant.
To be considered, students must have completed at least 24, but no more than 72, credit hours at a college, university, technical college or community college. The program targets, but is not restricted to, students from racial and ethnic groups whose numbers currently are disproportionately low in the legal profession compared to the overall population.
Applications are now available through April 15. Additional program requirements can be found at the UO PLUS Program website.