Accesslex Institute Brochure

Table of Contents 04 | History and Mission 06 | A ccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence 10 | AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability 14 | Our Member Law Schools

At AccessLex Institute, we believe that law school offers training and education that is unmatched in its quality, portability and flexibility, creating the potential for a lifetime of personal and professional success for anyone with the motivation to achieve.

That’s why, in partnership with our 200 Member law schools, improving access and positively influencing legal education has been at the heart of our mission since 1983.

Through the various programs housed in each of our Centers — the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence SM and the AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability SM— we continue our multi-decade quest to help talented, purpose-driven students find the path from aspiring lawyer to fulfilled professional.

And through the provision of actionable data and objective analysis, we will help law schools continue to innovate and effectively demonstrate their value to students and society alike.

Christopher P. Chapman President and Chief Executive Officer

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Get to know us.

Since 1983, AccessLex Institute has continually evolved to meet the ever-changing challenges and needs of the law students and institutions that we serve. We are steadfast in our commitment to inform students of the economic realities of law school without limiting their aspirations. We conduct and commission research to illuminate the latest data and evidence on the most critical issues facing legal education today.

And we are resolute in our appeal to policymakers and influencers to take actions that make legal education work better for both students and society at large.

As a nonprofit organization underpinned by nearly 200 American Bar Associationapproved nonprofit and state-affiliated law schools, we are intently dedicated to the betterment of legal education.

AccessLex Institute has more than 80 employees in our offices in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. and in field offices throughout the United States.

We currently have more than $500 million in total net assets.

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AccessLex Institute fosters broad-based access to quality legal education for talented, purpose-driven students and works to maximize the value and affordability of a law degree through policy advocacy, research and student-focused initiatives.

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AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence

Through the provision of actionable data and objective analysis, we help law schools continuously innovate and improve.

Based in Washington, D.C., the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence is committed to understanding the barriers that impede access to law school for historically underrepresented groups and improving access to law school for all; identifying actionable strategies and public policies to increase law school affordability; and strengthening the value of legal education.

Providing Actionable Research and Evaluation

Building Opportunities for Diversity and Success

This Center contributes to knowledge and practice within legal education specifically, and graduate and professional education more broadly, through the efforts of its Research and Data Division.

Activities include collecting and analyzing data, commissioning external experts and collaborating with other organizations to publish and report on the issues most relevant to our research priorities.

As a core tenet, AccessLex Institute believes that legal education should be obtainable for all talented individuals, regardless of circumstance. Through diversity-focused programming, research, advocacy and grantmaking, we seek to expand access to legal education for historically underrepresented minority students and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

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Transforming Knowledge into Power with Key Metrics Data-informed decision-making is increasingly important for law school leaders and the students they serve.

And it is more important than ever to make legal education data actionable and easy to use.

Analytix by AccessLex puts law school data into clear and accessible formats, allowing the legal education community to readily analyze, research and compare law school-specific information. Analytix puts the power to benchmark various schools, display trends, gain crucial insights and fuel independent research right into the hands of those who need it.

SM

PEER GROUP COMPARISON Produce a downloadable report comparing a law school of your choice to a customizable group of institutions.

Influencing Legal Education Policy

Awarding Outcome-Driven Grants

Improving access to legal education begins with improving education policy. AccessLex Institute’s Center for Legal Education Excellence focuses on tracking legislation and regulations with potential impact on students and the legal education community.

We provide policy analysis, information dissemination and issue education to Member schools and other graduate and professional school staff; and we develop policy positions on key issues impacting access, affordability and value. Our policy experts routinely speak with lawmakers, policy advocates and other influencers specifically on behalf of law students and in the interest of legal education on the whole.

In support of our research and diversity priorities, our grantmaking approach focuses on funding projects that have the potential to “move the needle” in legal education. Measurement and evaluation are essential components for demonstrating the effectiveness and scalability of interventions and are key factors when deciding what grants we make. We operate four grant programs to fund research and other projects related to legal education and our focus on access, affordability and value. Namely, these include: the Legal Education Diversity Pipeline Grant Program; the Research and Dissertation Fellows Program; the Directed Grant Program; and the Unsolicited Grant Program. These programs have awarded millions of dollars since their inception in 2014.

TREND REPORT Generate downloadable graphs and charts to display trends for select figures of your choice. Focus on data for one law school or compare to a customized group of institutions.

DOWNLOAD DATASET Select and download a set of variables for multiple years in CSV and Microsoft Excel formats to create your own dataset with information for all law schools.

SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARISON Create a downloadable report comparing up to five law schools, side-by-side, across a customized set of figures for the most recent report year.

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A comprehensive, innovative and engaging financial education program expressly for our Member law schools.

Law students and those who are about to pursue that path are educationally motivated by definition. They are high–achieving, purpose–driven, and busy-–so they need a targeted, action-oriented tool that supports their financial — and life—success in the short and long term.

Based on extensive feedback from students and administrators from more than 40 law schools, we developed MAX by AccessLex SM to maximize the financial capability and improve the financial well-being of aspiring and current law students.

F OCUS

on the financial education needs of

AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability

the law school student community

The AccessLex Center for Education and Financial Capability offers on-campus and online loan repayment and financial education programming and resources to help students and graduates confidently manage their finances on their way to achieving personal and professional success. We also provide professional development opportunities and guidance for school administrators working to improve financial education at their institutions.

ENGAGE students at their level of understanding, DEVELOP

Supporting Law Students and Schools At AccessLex Institute, we know firsthand how important it is for students to understand the realities of their student loans and finances. We believe that giving students the tools to establish good financial habits and the information to manage their financial responsibilities will help them stay on the right path, even after graduation.

This Center produces and distributes a full range of resources and publications that examine, explain and provide deeper

expertise and experience positive financial decision-making skills

context on the topics most relevant to students at various stages of their law school journey–financing a legal education, borrowing wisely, budgeting, spending plans, loan repayment options and strategies and more.

financial—and life—situations in both the short and long term

Our Education Services team members are Accredited Financial Counselors (AFC ® ) who deliver expert financial

knowledge gain and behavior change

education programming, as well as one-on-one loan counseling for students.

EMPOWER individuals to take action to improve their SUPPORT law school professionals in driving

This new program is offered free of charge to our Member schools and their students, and it is just one of the many financial education resources we provide.

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A Focus on Professional Development AccessLex Legal Education Research Symposium Developed to offer law school deans, administrators, faculty and researchers from across the nation an opportunity to review the latest research and engage in thought-provoking discussions on the most challenging issues facing legal education today, the Symposium is held annually in conjunction with the AccessLex Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Conference.

ACC

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The first service of its kind to provide on-demand, one-on-one loan repayment and other financial education information to graduate and professional students, AccessConnex is a free helpline that delivers personal, accurate counseling by phone, live chat or email. Our Education Services team members, all Accredited Financial Counselors (AFC® ), work closely with students to offer clear, unbiased information to set them on a sound financial path.

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AccessLex Student Loan Calculator

AccessLex Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Conference

To better help students estimate the cost of their legal education, our Student Loan Calculator :

For 30 years, this premier annual event has focused on the unique needs of administrators in graduate and professional financial aid, admissions and career and student services. Developed to inform and lead the conversations critical to the world of higher education, administrators from all disciplines come together to share best practices, review and discuss new regulations and learn from expert and nationally acclaimed speakers.

Prepopulates Cost of Attendance • Itemizes cost of living components so students can adjust the figures to fit their lifestyles • Factors in any outstanding undergraduate loans, scholarships and grants, income, savings goals and other personal expenses • Demonstrates the positive effect that prepayment can have on loan repayment •

And of course, the Calculator includes repayment options to help students choose the plan that best fits their budget and repayment goals.

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AccessLex Institute Member Law Schools

Harvard University Law School

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Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law

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University of Chicago Law School

• U niversity

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University of Cincinnati College of Law

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• University

of Minnesota Law School

• Pontifical

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Hofstra University Maurice A. Deane School of Law

of Mississippi School of Law

• University

•

University of Houston Law Center

• U niversity

of Missouri School of Law

• Quinnipiac

College of Law

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Howard University School of Law

• U niversity

of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law

• Regent

University of Idaho College of Law

• M itchell

City University of New York School of Law State University Cleveland-Marshall

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University of Alabama School of Law

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University of Colorado Law School

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Albany Law School

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Columbia Law School

• I llinois

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American University Washington College of Law

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Concordia University School of Law

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Appalachian School of Law

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University of Connecticut School of Law

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The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law

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Cornell Law School

Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent

College of Law • U niversity

of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

College of Law

College School of Law

Hamline School of Law

School of Law

• University

• U niversity

of Montana School of Law

• Roger

• U niversity

of Nebraska College of Law

• Rutgers

• U niversity

of Nevada Las Vegas William S. Boyd

• Saint

School of Law

Louis University School of Law University Cumberland School of Law

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Creighton University School of Law

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Indiana University Maurer School of Law

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University of Dayton School of Law

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Indiana University Robert C. McKinney School of Law

• U niversity

of New Hampshire School of Law

• University

University of Arkansas School of Law

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University of Denver Sturm College of Law

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Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law

• U niversity

of New Mexico School of Law

• Santa

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DePaul University College of Law

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University of Iowa College of Law

• N ew

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The John Marshall Law School

• N ew

•

University of Kansas School of Law

• U niversity

School of Law

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University of Kentucky College of Law

• N orth

Drake University Law School

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University of La Verne College of Law

• U niversity

• University

of Arkansas Little Rock William H. Bowen

School of Law

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Ave Maria School of Law

• U niversity

• University

of Baltimore School of Law

Barry University Dwayne O. Andreas School of Law

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University of Detroit Mercy School of Law of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke

Jefferson School of Law

• U niversity • T ouro

University Law School

• U niversity • T he

• V alparaiso • V anderbilt • V ermont

York University School of Law

Hall University School of Law

University School of Law University Law School

Law School

• V illanova

University Charles Widger School of Law of Virginia School of Law

• W ake

University School of Law

of Tulsa College of Law

University of Utah S. J. Quinney College of Law

• U niversity

Clara University School of Law

of Toledo College of Law

College J acob D. Fuchsberg Law Center

• T ulane

of San Francisco School of Law

• Seton

of North Dakota School of Law

Tech University School of Law

• T homas

of San Diego School of Law

• Seattle

Carolina Central University School of Law

• T exas

• University

York Law School of North Carolina School of Law

of Richmond School of Law

University School of Law – Camden/Newark

• Samford

England Law – Boston

University School of Law

Williams University School of Law

College of Law

State University Sandra Day O’Connor

of Puerto Rico School of Law

University School of Law

• N ew

• Arizona

of Pittsburgh School of Law Catholic University of Puerto Rico

• U niversity

University of Akron School of Law

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State University College of Law

• U niversity

• M ississippi

•

•

• Michigan

School of Law

• C leveland

•

of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson

Forest University School of Law

• W ashburn

University School of Law

• W ashington • U niversity

of Washington School of Law

• University

of South Carolina School of Law

• W ashington

• University

of South Dakota School of Law

• W ayne

• South

Texas College of Law Houston

and Lee School of Law

State University Law School

Virginia University College of Law

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Baylor Law School

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Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law

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Lewis and Clark Law School

• N ortheastern

University School of Law

• University

•

Belmont University College of Law

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Duke University School of Law

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Liberty University School of Law

• N orthern

Illinois University College of Law

• Southern

Illinois University School of Law

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Duquesne University School of Law

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Lincoln Memorial University Duncan School of Law

• N orthern

Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase

• Southern

Methodist University Dedman School of Law

• W estern

New England College School of Law

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Elon University School of Law

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Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center

• Southern

University Law Center

• W estern

State College of Law

• W hittier

Law School

• Boston •

College Law School

Boston University School of Law

• Brigham

Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School

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Brooklyn Law School

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University of Buffalo School of Law

• University

of California, Berkeley School of Law

•

•

University of Louisville Louis D. Brandeis School of Law

• N orthwestern

•

Loyola Law School Los Angeles

• U niversity

School of Law

•

Loyola University Chicago School of Law

• N ova

University of Florida Frederic G. Levin College of Law

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Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

Emory University School of Law

• F aulkner

•

College of Law

University Thomas Goode Jones

Southeastern University Shepard Broad

College of Law

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University of California, Davis School of Law

•

Florida A&M University College of Law

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University of Maine School of Law

• O hio

•

University of California, Hastings College of the Law

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Florida International University College of Law

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Marquette University Law School

• T he

•

University of California, Irvine School of Law

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Florida State University College of Law

• U niversity

•

University of California, Los Angeles School of Law

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Fordham University School of Law

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California Western School of Law

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George Mason University School of Law

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The George Washington University Law School

School of Law

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Georgetown University Law Center

Capital University Law School

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University of Georgia School of Law

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Georgia State University College of Law

• M ercer

School of Law

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Golden Gate University School of Law

• U niversity

of Miami School of Law

• U niversity

The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law

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Gonzaga University School of Law

• U niversity

of Michigan Law School

• P epperdine

• Campbell

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• Case

•

University Norman Adrian Wiggins

Western Reserve University Franklin T. Backus

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of Maryland Francis King Carey

School of Law • U niversity

of Massachusetts

School of Law – Dartmouth • T he

University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys

School of Law University School of Law

University Pritzker School of Law

of Notre Dame – The Law School

Northern University Pettit College of Law

Ohio State University Moritz College of Law

• U niversity

of Oklahoma College of Law

• O klahoma • U niversity • P ace

City University School of Law

of Oregon School of Law

University Elisabeth Haub School of Law

• U niversity

of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law

• Southwestern

Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley

Law School

John’s University School of Law

• W idener

University Commonwealth Law School

• St.

Mary’s University School of Law

• W idener

University Delaware Law School

• St.

Thomas University School of Law

• W illamette

• University • Stanford

of St. Thomas School of Law

• W illiam

University College of Law

& Mary Law School

University Law School

• U niversity

of Wisconsin Law School

• Stetson

University College of Law

• U niversity

of Wyoming College of Law

• Suffolk

University Law School

• Y ale

• Syracuse • Temple

University College of Law

University Beasley School of Law

• University

State Law

• Texas

• P enn

State – Dickinson Law

• University

University School of Law

Law School

• W estern

• St.

• P enn

of Pennsylvania Law School

of Southern California Gould School of Law

• W est

University School of Law

• Texas

of Tennessee College of Law

A&M University School of Law of Texas at Austin – Texas Law

Southern University Thurgood Marshall

School of Law

Law School

• Y eshiva

University Benjamin N. Cardozo

School of Law

10 North High Street, Suite 400, West Chester, PA 19380 440 First Street NW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. 20001 AccessLex.org

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