Student Affairs

Contact Information

Programs and Support

For most students, the first year of law school is the most challenging period of their academic careers. The faculty and administration of DePaul University College of Law want qualified, committed students to succeed and offer programs to assist students as they acclimate to the demands, methods, and conventions of law school. Whether through formalized programs, such as ASP and CLEO, or more informally through one on one counseling and mentoring, DePaul is committed to helping students reach their potential, while also creating a welcoming and inviting environment.

Counseling and Mentoring

The Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs is available to meet with students who have questions and concerns about electives, career choices, or law school in general, or, who want or need individualized counseling and mentoring. The Assistant Dean works with all of the minority student organizations to assist with programming and to co-sponsor events, such as the annual Diversity Week Celebration, the minority alumni scholarship banquet, the law days for local high school students, and the minority graduation reception.

Academic Support Program

DePaul is among very few law schools in the nation to make an institutional commitment to ensure that each of its incoming students has access to the support needed to succeed in law school. In 1992, the College of Law created an Academic Support Program (ASP) to assist first-year law students, particularly those with non-traditional backgrounds, to develop the critical thinking and analytical skills that law school demands. The program is run by two full-time academic support professionals and consists of small classes, monthly workshops, the ASP web page and individual assistance and counseling.

Council on Legal Education Opportunity

CLEO, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, is a non-profit organization dedicated to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities to members of underrepresented groups. CLEO coordinates six-week pre-law summer institutes to assist minority and disadvantaged students in acquiring the skills and techniques necessary for successful law school performance. DePaul supports CLEO and actively recruits its graduates. The Law School hosted a CLEO six-week pre-law summer institute in 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004. For more information contact CLEO at (202) 216-4343 or www.abanet.org/cleo.

Scholarships for upper-level students

All DePaul minority student organizations offer scholarships for current students. There are different criteria for each; and you must apply separately with each organization. If you are a current student and are interested in applying, please contact ctaylor@depaul.edu.

Current students can also apply to various bar associations and legal groups in the Chicago area who provide scholarships for minority students. The Black Women Lawyers Association, the Cook County Bar Association, and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois offer scholarships to currently enrolled minority law students.