law school admission council the evolution of the lsac academic assistance initiative lsac academic...
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LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION COUNCIL
THE EVOLUTION OF THE LSAC ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE
LSAC ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE TRAINING WORKSHOPJUNE 13-16, 2012DENVER, COLORADO
PRESENTER:KENT D. LOLLISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR DIVERSITYINITIATIVES
HISTORY
• ONGOING CONCERN ABOUT RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY IN LEGAL EDUCATION
• ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND BAR PASSAGE
• CONSISTENT WITH LSAC MISSION AND CORE COMPETENCIES
• STUDENTS PREFORM BETTER WHEN THEY ARE SUFFICIENTLY ACCLIMATED TO THE ACADEMIC RIGORS OF LAW SCHOOL
EARLY CHALLENGES
• THE LSAT
• ADDING TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD OF LAW SCHOOLS
• FEAR OF BACKLASH FROM STUDENTS NOT PART OF THE PART OF THE PROGRAM
• PROGRAM STIGMA
• TEACHING BLACKLETTER LAW
• LOOK TO YOUR LEFT AND LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT
WHAT DIDN’T WORK
• CREATE A “MODEL” ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
• PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
• DEVELOPING A TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PUBLICATION.
• LIMITING A PROGRAM TO STUDENTS FROM UNDERREPRESENTED RACIAL AND ETHNIC GROUPS
CONTRIBUTIONS TO LEGAL EDUCATION
• CHANGED THE DISCOURSE ABOUT SUCCESS IN LAW SCHOOL
• FORCED THE ACADEMY TO CHANGE ITS HISTORICAL VIEWS ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING
• RETHINING ADMISSION CRITERIA AND PROCESSES
• ADVANCING TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS IN THE LAW SCHOOL CLASSROOM
• REFOCUSED LAW SCHOOL ACCREDITATION