Call for Legal Scholar Applications

The call for applications will go out every year during the fall semester. Students in their 3rd or 4th years are invited to apply to become Legal Scholars as long as they plan to enroll in law school 2 years after beginning the Legal Scholars Program.

A call for the current year Legal Scholars Applicants appears below.

October 28, 2025

The William & Mary Legal Scholars Program invites applications for the 2025-2026 cohort of undergraduate legal scholars. WMLSP provides comprehensive support to a small group of students preparing to apply to law school during the 2026-2027 academic year (for entry in fall 2027). Legal Scholars will take an LSAT prep course during the spring 2026 semester and will take the LSAT during the summer 2026 (preferably in June, but no later than August 2026). Legal Scholars must be available to participate in an in-person law school application boot camp tentatively scheduled on campus from May 18-23, 2026. Students will leave that boot camp with a draft of their personal statement and other optional essays, having arranged for letters of recommendation, and having decided on a tentative list of law schools to which they will apply. There is no cost to participating students. The deadline to submit applications is November 10.

WMLSP is open to anyone who will complete their bachelor’s degree by August 2027 and who plans to apply to law school for entry in the fall of 2027. WMLSP seeks to enhance successful pathways in the legal profession for students who are limited-income, first-generation, or lack substantial mentoring networks in the legal community.*

To apply, please submit (1) a current resume, (2) an unofficial copy of your W&M transcript, and (3) an essay that responds to the question below (500 word maximum) through the Qualtrics survey you can find here.† Make sure to submit your materials by the end of the day on November 10. 

Why are you interested in attending law school and why are you an especially good candidate to participate in the W&M Legal Scholars Program? In your response, please explain any challenges or financial limitations that have affected your ability to access a substantial mentor network in the legal community.

As you consider applying to the program, please keep in mind that students admitted to the WMLSP will be required to take an LSAT prep course on Friday afternoons during the spring semester and complete homework associated with that class (including studying for the LSAT exam). LSP application decisions will be made prior to the end of the spring semester add/drop period. Please keep this program requirement in mind as you are finalizing your spring semester class schedule.

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*The W&M Legal Scholars defines first-generation students as those with neither parent nor legal guardian having completed a bachelor’s degree, in line with the university’s Office of First Generation Student Engagement. The university's Pell Grant Guarantee serves as the basis for limited income eligibility. All students interested in the program are invited to attend its events and presentations. If you have any questions, please reach out to Professor Christine Nemacheck (clnema@wm.edu).
†Or copy and paste the following address into your browser. https://wmsas.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0DQY4QqJAtLVUYC