The Law Schools That Are Working The Hardest To Expand The Pipeline To The Legal Profession - Above the Law

"Instead of obsessing over the usual metrics - LSAT medians, employment stats, or prestige signaling - the list highlights law schools actually working to widen the pipeline into the profession through admissions innovation, affordability efforts, flexible program design, and meaningful support for students once they arrive."

"preLaw invited law schools to submit information about initiatives, partnerships or strategies that reflect the mission of expanding access to legal education. Schools were evaluated based on the scope and maturity of their efforts, including evidence of scale, longevity and measurable impact where available."

"Institutions designated as A demonstrate multiple, well-established access strategies that work together to lower barriers to entry and persistence. Schools recognized at the A- level meet the Honor Roll criteria through defined initiatives, with distinctions reflecting breadth and scale rather than quality."

The legal profession emphasizes access to justice, yet barriers to becoming a lawyer remain significant due to narrow pathways, high costs, and lack of transparency. The preLaw Magazine Justice & Opportunity Honor Roll addresses this by recognizing law schools implementing meaningful access initiatives rather than focusing on conventional metrics like LSAT scores or employment statistics. Schools are evaluated based on admissions innovation, affordability efforts, flexible program design, and student support systems. The Honor Roll distinguishes between A-level schools with multiple well-established access strategies and A- schools with defined initiatives. This recognition reflects the importance of creating a legal profession that mirrors the communities it serves.

Read at Above the Law