WEST CHESTER, PA — AccessLex Institute is partnering with Vermont Law and Graduate School to study an alternative law school admissions model designed to identify students whose potential may not be fully reflected by traditional admission metrics, including standardized test scores.
The research will focus on Vermont Law’s Advanced Master of Legal Studies program, a pathway that allows applicants who are not initially admitted to the Juris Doctor program to demonstrate their ability to succeed in legal education through graduate-level coursework, academic support, and mentoring.
Under the program, students complete a structured first semester before either transitioning into the law school’s J.D. program or continuing toward a Master of Legal Studies degree, depending on their academic performance.
The collaboration is part of AccessLex’s Admission Innovation Project, an initiative launched in 2024 to evaluate new approaches to law school admissions and better understand the effects of reducing reliance on standardized testing in admission decisions.
Researchers from both institutions will examine whether the program expands access to legal education while supporting student success and retention.
The findings could contribute to a broader national discussion within legal education about how law schools evaluate applicants and whether alternative pathways can identify candidates who may be overlooked by conventional admissions processes.
Aaron N. Taylor, senior vice president and executive director of the Center for Legal Education Excellence at AccessLex, said programs that focus on preparing students for the demands of law school merit closer study.
“There is much promise for law school preparation programs centered on imparting the specific knowledge and skills that law students are expected to acquire and master,” Taylor said.
Beth McCormack, dean of Vermont Law and Graduate School, said the project will help evaluate whether the program creates effective pathways into the legal profession.
AccessLex said the Admission Innovation Project provides funding and research support to participating law schools for studies that can span up to 24 months.
The initiative seeks to generate data on how alternative admissions strategies affect student access, class composition, and academic performance as legal education institutions continue to reassess traditional admissions practices.
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