preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 - (Page 30)

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN students celebrated the 2003 Supreme Court Grutter decision that upheld race as a factor in law school admissions. But legal challenges to affirmative action policies over the 10 years prior to that significantly hampered minority enrollment at law schools. Today, law schools find they have to take a broad-based approach to increase the number of black and Hispanic students. LSAT scores between candidates from different racial backgrounds. “It affects everyone,” he said. “If we emphasize the LSAT too much, it hurts minorities, it hurts women, and it hurts candidates across the board.” At Seattle University, the law school admits 30 diverse students without regard to LSAT scores and GPA and gives them scholarships. It then works with the students throughout their law school careers, in connection with the school’s Academic Resource Center. “We look for indicia of success,” said Kellye Testy, law school dean. “We support them academically and financially.” Testy said Seattle looks for individuals who have strong traits in compassion, communication skills, and overcoming adversity and hurdles. willamette university college of law • • • • Why a broad-based approach is necessary Law schools that have been successful in retaining a diverse student body recognize that diversity isn’t built on just one factor. “This is the result of years of effort and a lot of different policies,” said Robert Rasmussen, dean of the University of Southern California Law School in Los Angeles, which has a reputation for being one of the most welcoming places to minority law students. “It’s not a one-time strategy. It is something you do all the time because it is a part of who you are.” Among those policies, the school reaches out to diverse candidates, not just those with top scores, Rasmussen said. At American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., the goal is to “have an integral, holistic • • • • • Full-Time J.D. Program J.D./M.B.A. Joint Degree Program LL.M. in Transnational Law Certiﬁcate Programs in Dispute Resolution, Law & Government, Law & Business, International & Comparative Law, and Sustainability Law Clinical Law Program and Externship Program Professional Development and Multicultural Affairs Multicultural Law Students Association Alumni Mentor Program, Loan Repayment Assistance Program Study Abroad in China, Ecuador and Germany Willamette Law Professor Robin Morris Collin w illam ette the first university in the west 503-370-6282 • law-admission@willamette.edu www.willamette.edu/wucl/admission/ 30 preLaw AP PHOTO/JOHN F. MARTIN http://www.willamette.edu/wucl/admission/ http://www.willamette.edu/wucl/admission/

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008 Contents From the Editor For the Record Large Gender Gap Remains Among Political Hopefuls Man Charged in LSAT Scam Barry Dean Recognized New Report Examines Legal Ed Drexel Receives Accredidation New Mexico No. 1 for Hispanics A Film Journey in Law A Law Student at Last Debt Salvation Great Law Schools for Minorities Grad Opts Out of Big Firm Job Specialties Helpful Advice

preLaw Magazine - Spring 2008

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