LSAC and CLEO Announce New Partnership

The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO) is getting a jumpstart to its historic 2018 50th Anniversary celebrations with a major financial gift from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). Envisioning a new and mutually rewarding relationship, LSAC and CLEO will memorialize their commitment with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding at 2:00 PM (ET) on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at the law firm of Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP, a longtime CLEO supporter, located at 1350 I Street, N. W., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005.

Although best known for its Pre-Law Summer Institutes, CLEO programs serve high school, college, postgraduates, and law school students and have had more than 10,000 persons participate in one or more of its programs. “CLEO was instrumental to my success in law school and beyond,” said newly-elected U.S. Congresswoman, Nanette Barragán (D-CA44). “The experiences prepared me to work in a top-notch law firm and were great preparation in my successful run for the U.S. House of Representatives.” Rep. Barragán is one of the many thousands of CLEO alumni who began their legal education with the organization. Other notable CLEO alumni include lawyers, such as Dean Blake Morant, The George Washington University Law School; U.S. Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA2); and The Honorable Reggie Walton, Senior U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia.

“LSAC’s efforts to enhance diversity in the legal profession extend back to the organization’s inception,” according to Athornia Steele, LSAC interim president. “LSAC participated in CLEO’s founding in 1968, and the two organizations have worked together to promote diversity in law ever since.”

“LSAC enthusiastically supports CLEO’s programs in its historic 50th Anniversary year and beyond.” remarked Susan Krinsky, Chair of LSAC’s Board of Trustees and Associate Dean at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. “This partnership is an excellent way for both organizations to realize our objectives of helping diverse students to enroll and succeed in law school.”

“Having a diverse legal profession is as important today as it was almost 50 years ago when CLEO was first established.” said CLEO, Inc. Board Chair, Angela Birch Cox. “That’s why we couldn’t be more pleased about LSAC’s continued commitment to CLEO. LSAC’s investment will assist us in continuing to help diverse and economically disadvantaged students become today’s lawyers and tomorrow’s leaders!”

Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP Partner and Chief Diversity Officer and CLEO, Inc. board member, Elizabeth A. Campbell, said that the firm “has been an ardent supporter of CLEO for nearly a decade when we became involved with the 40th Anniversary celebration way back in 2008.” She further stated that, “CLEO’s mission to help diversify the legal profession aligns perfectly with our firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion and we are proud to help CLEO celebrate its historic 50th anniversary in 2018!”

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About Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc.

CLEO, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities for persons from traditionally under-represented racial and ethnic groups, low-income and disadvantaged communities. Founded in 1968, CLEO has produced more than 10,000 alumni who have excelled in every area of the legal profession and includes judges, corporate attorneys, law school deans and professors, practitioners, politicians and more.

For more information about CLEO, Inc. please visit www.cleoinc.org. 

CLEO, Inc. Media Contact
Leigh Allen II
Lallen@cleoinc.org
240.582.8600 ext. 201