20-U.S.C.-1136
§1136 – Legal Educational Opportunity Program
Pathway
Title 20 > Chapter 28 > Subchapter VII > Part A > Subpart 3 > Section 1136
Details
- Reference: Section 1136
- Legend: §1136 – Legal Educational Opportunity Program
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
(a) Program authority
The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program designed to provide low-income, minority, or disadvantaged secondary school and college students with the information, preparation, and financial assistance to gain access to and complete law school study and admission to law practice.
(b) Eligibility
A secondary school student or college student is eligible for assistance under this section if the student is—
(1) from a low-income family;
(2) a minority; or
(3) from an economically or otherwise disadvantaged background.
(c) Contract or grant authorized
The Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with, or make a grant to, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, for a period of not less than 5 years—
(1) to identify secondary school and college students who are from low-income families, are minorities, or are from disadvantaged backgrounds described in subsection (b)(3) of this section;
(2) to prepare such students for successful completion of a baccalaureate degree and for study at accredited law schools, and to assist them with the development of analytical skills, writing skills, and study methods to enhance the students’ success in, and promote the students’ admission to and completion of, law school;
(3) to assist such students to select the appropriate law school, make application for entry into law school, and receive financial assistance for such study;
(4) to provide support services to such students who are first-year law students to improve retention and success in law school studies;
(5) to motivate and prepare such students—
(A) with respect to law school studies and practice in low-income communities; and
(B) to provide legal services to low-income individuals and families; and
(6) to award Thurgood Marshall Fellowships to eligible law school students—
(A) who participated in summer institutes under subsection (d)(6) and who are enrolled in an accredited law school; or
(B) who have successfully completed a comparable summer institute program that is certified by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity.
(d) Services provided
In carrying out the purposes described in subsection (c) of this section, the contract or grant shall provide for the delivery of services through pre-college programs, undergraduate prelaw information resource centers, summer institutes, midyear seminars, and other educational activities, conducted under this section. Such services may include—
(1) information and counseling regarding—
(A) accredited law school academic programs, especially tuition, fees, and admission requirements;
(B) course work offered and required for law school graduation;
(C) faculty specialties and areas of legal emphasis; and
(D) pre-college and undergraduate preparatory courses in analytical and writing skills, study methods, and course selection;
(2) summer academic programs for secondary school students who have expressed interest in a career in the law;
(3) tutoring and academic counseling, including assistance in preparing for bar examinations;
(4) prelaw mentoring programs, involving law school faculty, members of State and local bar associations, and retired and sitting judges, justices, and magistrates;
(5) assistance in identifying preparatory courses and material for the law school aptitude or admissions tests;
(6) summer institutes for Thurgood Marshall Fellows that expose the Fellows to a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes abstract thinking, legal analysis, research, writing, and examination techniques; and
(7) midyear seminars and other educational activities that are designed to reinforce reading, writing, and studying skills of Thurgood Marshall Fellows and Associates.
(e) Duration of provision of services
The services described in subsection (d) of this section may be provided—
(1) prior to the period of law school study, including before and during undergraduate study;
(2) during the period of law school study; and
(3) during the period following law school study and prior to taking a bar examination.
(f) Subcontracts and subgrants
For the purposes of planning, developing, or delivering one or more of the services described in subsection (d) of this section, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity shall enter into subcontracts with, and make subgrants to, institutions of higher education, law schools, public and private agencies and organizations, national and State bar associations, and combinations of such institutions, schools, agencies, organizations, and associations.
(g) Fellowships and stipends
The Secretary shall annually establish the maximum fellowship to be awarded, and the maximum stipend to be paid (including allowances for participant travel and for the travel of the dependents of the participant), to Thurgood Marshall Fellows or Associates for the period of participation in summer institutes, midyear seminars, and bar preparation seminars. A Thurgood Marshall Fellow or Associate may be eligible for such a fellowship or stipend only if the Fellow or Associate maintains satisfactory academic progress toward the Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree, as determined by the respective institutions (except with respect to a law school graduate enrolled in a bar preparation course).
(h) Authorization of appropriations
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years.
(Pub. L. 89–329, title VII, §721, as added Pub. L. 105–244, title VII, §701, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1794; amended Pub. L. 110–315, title VII, §704(a)–(h), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3347, 3348; Pub. L. 111–39, title VII, §701(1), July 1, 2009, 123 Stat. 1954.)
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89–329, title XI, §1101, as added Pub. L. 102–325, title XI, §1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 784, stated findings of Congress, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105–244, §3, title VII, §702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, effective Oct. 1, 1998.
Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89–329, title XI, §1101, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title XI, §1101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1568, stated Congressional findings and purpose relating to partnerships for economic development, prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 102–325.
Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89–329, title XI, §1101, as added Pub. L. 96–374, title XI, §1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1491, stated Congressional findings and declaration of purpose, prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 99–498.
Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89–329, title XI, §1101, as added Pub. L. 90–575, title II, §281, Oct. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 1048; amended Pub. L. 92–318, title I, §191(a), (b), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 323, authorized a program for grants and contracts covering the establishment of a law school clinical experiences regimen, prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 96–374.
A prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89–329 was renumbered section 341 and is classified to section 1066 of this title.
Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1132c of this title, prior to the general amendment of part A of this subchapter by Pub. L. 102–325.
Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1132c of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 99–498.
Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89–329 was classified to section 1132b of this title, prior to the general amendment of this subchapter by Pub. L. 96–374.
Amendments
2009—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–39 substituted services through pre-college programs, undergraduate prelaw information resource centers for services through and all that followed through resource centers, resulting in text identical to that after execution of the amendment by Pub. L. 110–315, §704(d)(1). See 2008 Amendment note below.
2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(a)(1), inserted secondary school and after disadvantaged and and admission to law practice before period at end.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(b), inserted secondary school student or before college student in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(c)(1), inserted secondary school and before college students.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(c)(2), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: to prepare such students for study at accredited law schools;.
Subsec. (c)(5), (6). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(c)(3), (4), added pars. (5) and (6) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: to motivate and prepare such students with respect to law school studies and practice in low-income communities.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(d)(1), which directed insertion of pre-college programs, undergraduate before pre-law, was executed by making insertion before prelaw in introductory provisions, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.
Subsec. (d)(1)(B). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(d)(2)(A), inserted law school before graduation.
Subsec. (d)(1)(D). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(d)(2)(B), added subpar. (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows: undergraduate preparatory courses and curriculum selection;.
Subsec. (d)(2) to (7). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(d)(3)–(5), added par. (2), redesignated former pars. (2) to (6) as (3) to (7), respectively, and in par. (7), inserted and Associates after Thurgood Marshall Fellows.
Subsec. (e)(1). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(e), inserted , including before and during undergraduate study before semicolon at end.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(f), inserted national and State bar associations, after private agencies and organizations, and substituted organizations, and associations for and organizations.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(g), amended subsec. (g) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: The Secretary shall annually establish the maximum stipend to be paid (including allowances for participant travel and for the travel of the dependents of the participant) to Thurgood Marshall Fellows for the period of participation in summer institutes and midyear seminars. A Fellow may be eligible for such a stipend only if the Thurgood Marshall Fellow maintains satisfactory academic progress toward the Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree, as determined by the respective institutions.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 110–315, §704(h), substituted fiscal year 2009 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years for fiscal year 1999 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
Effective Date of 2009 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
20-U.S.C.-1134B in the Legal Encyclopedia: Students
In this entry about 20-U.S.C.-1134B, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to students in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States students-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
Part A – Graduate Education Programs in the Legal Encyclopedia: Education Programs
In this entry about Part A – Graduate Education Programs, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to education programs in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States education programs-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
Leave a Reply