LSAC Resources - Grants

General Policies Governing Events Subsidized by LSAC

Purpose of Grants

LSAC's Board of Trustees has made available funds to support cooperative outreach and applicant pool expansion events. These grants are designed to encourage law schools to work together to promote legal education.

Cooperation

At least three LSAC-member schools must work together on each event. Law schools may also work in cooperation with undergraduate prelaw advising offices, bar associations, and others in arranging events. The grant application process can be initiated by either a law school representative or a prelaw advisor in cooperation with one or more law school representatives.

Types of Events

If a regional program is planned, the region can be as small as a city or as large as a state or group of states. In addition to regional groupings, schools may hold events by affinity groups, such as:

• schools having evening or part-time programs;
• schools sharing religious affiliation;
• schools offering particular specialties (International Law, Environmental Law, etc.); or
• other groups as they may arise.

Schools located in the geographical area of the event that have not been included in the group holding the event are to be notified about the program in advance.

Program

The program should be general in nature and not promote one school over another. If a law fair or event where prospective students may talk with individual schools is featured, only a portion of the total program should be devoted to this activity. Program speakers should represent the highest standards of the legal community. An example of an event might include a keynote address, speaker panels, and small group workshops dedicated to providing information on legal education and/or the profession. Each school takes on part of the responsibility for organizing the event; for example, one law school makes site arrangements, another contacts panelists and obtains a keynote speaker, still another collects and prepares materials, and another arranges publicity. A copy of the program and materials must be filed with LSAC, and LSAC retains the right to reproduce these materials. If names of attendees are collected, these names should be protected from use for any commercial purposes.

Grant Amounts

Grants up to $10,000 per event are available to cover some of the expenses of the event. Often, these are promotional expenses, because costs for publicizing the event in local media often fall outside of the range of funds available, and the success of such events will depend on attracting an audience large enough to justify the effort.

A budget for the program and for the funds requested (advertising, transportation, telephone outreach, materials, etc.) must be provided. Beyond the stipulation that no LSAC funds may be used for salaries or compensation of law school personnel in connection with the event, funds may be requested for any other purpose. Funds will be transferred to the specified party upon receipt of appropriate documentation, including originals or copies of receipts.

Evaluation

A letter of evaluation must be provided at the conclusion of the event. This letter should contain the number of prospective students in attendance, a copy of the final program, names of the participating speakers, and other information of value in assessing the program. For example, a brief questionnaire that evaluates impressions of the program by those in attendance has value in improving the program in future years.

Application

An application or proposal letter must describe the program purpose and content, date, time, site, speakers, and special events. The LSAC Outreach Grant application form must be used. When you click on this link to get to the application form, you will see a message box that asks if you want to Open, Save, or Cancel. Select Save to save this application to your word-processing program, where you can type in the requested information. If you choose Open instead of Save after clicking on the link above, you will only be able to view and print out the application.

Send your completed application to LSAC by attaching it to an e-mail to abrandt@LSAC.org, or mail or fax it to

Anne Brandt
LSAC
662 Penn Street
PO BOX 40
Newtown PA 18940

Fax: 215.968.1169

Proposals should be received at least two months in advance of the event. Decisions on grant proposals will be made by the LSAC Chair, the LSAC Executive Director, and the Chair of LSAC's Services and Programs Committee. For further information about LSAC Outreach Grants, please contact Anne Brandt (abrandt@LSAC.org; phone: 215.968.1297).