In 1968 the Council on Legal Education Opportunity was founded as a non-profit project of the ABA Fund for Justice and Education to expand opportunities for minority and low-income students to attend law school. In 1998, Congress passed the Higher Education Amendments Act, creating the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program, which is administered by the Council on Legal Education Opportunity.

CLEO is committed to diversifying the legal profession by expanding legal education opportunities to minority, low-income and disadvantaged groups. Over the past 40 years, more than 8,000 students have participated in CLEO's pre-law and law school academic support programs, successfully matriculated through law school, passed the bar exam and joined the legal profession. CLEO alumni, many who had less than traditional academic indicators of success, yet were given an opportunity to attend law school, are represented in every area of the legal profession-private law firms and corporations, law schools, federal and state judiciaries, and legislators across the country. Currently, three CLEO alumni are members of the United States Congress. The influence of CLEO alumni in the legal profession, in particular and throughout the country in general, is an indication of the important role CLEO has played in helping to provide a voice to underrepresented groups.

The CLEO Governing Council is comprised of representatives from national bar associations and law school professional organizations including: the American Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, Law School Admission Council, National Asian and Pacific American Bar Association, National Bar Association, National Native American Bar Association, Association of American Law Schools and the Society of American Law Teachers. In addition, more than 140 ABA-accredited law schools are members of the CLEO Consortium on Diversity in Legal Education.
To ensure the success of students who participate in the CLEO Program as well as accomplish its mission to diversify the legal profession, CLEO provides placement assistance, academic support and counseling, financial assistance, bar prep orientation, online tutoring programs and weekend seminars and workshops. The seminars and workshops generally address the continuing need for legal services to under-served and low-income communities, and stress the importance of the students' commitment to serve those communities upon graduation. In addition, as a means of extending the legal education pipeline, CLEO also provides training and workshops to college students who are interested in attending law school and pursuing a career in the legal profession.

CLEO/Thurgood Marshall College Scholars Program

Who Is Eligible: Freshmen, sophomores or juniors interested in attending law school
What: The Road to Law School, Sophomore Super Saturdays, Juniors Jumpstart the LSAT and Achieving Success in the Application Process pre-law seminars designed especially for undergraduate students
Where: Various locations across the country
When: Throughout the year
Deadline: Varies (Log on to www.cleoscholars.com for deadline dates).
Cost: Free

Sophomore Summer Institute (SSI)

Who Is Eligible: College students who have earned between 45 and 72 credit hours
What: A four-week residential pre-law program designed to prepare students to become more competitive law school applicants
Where: Various law schools
When: June
Deadline: April 1st
Cost: Free

CLEO Ambassadors

Who Is Eligible: Juniors who have participated in CLEO College Scholars programs or the Sophomore Summer Institute
What: CLEO Ambassadors will distribute information on their campus and receive a stipend
Where: CLEO seeks representatives from as many campuses as possible
When: Rising juniors may apply at the end of their sophomore year
How: Contact the CLEO Pre-Law Coordinator at 202.828.6100

The CLEO Six-Week Summer Institute

Who Is Eligible: Graduating seniors or graduates who plan to attend law school in the fall of 2008
What: A six-week residential program designed to prepare participants to be more competitive law school students. Those who successfully complete the program become CLEO Fellows and may be eligible for scholarship grants during law school
Where: Various law schools
When: June - July
Deadline: November 30th (early deadline) and February 1st (regular deadline).
Cost: $2,000 (includes room, board and instructional materials) (some financial assistance may be available)

Achieving Success In The Application Process (ASAP)

Who Is Eligible: College juniors, seniors and post-graduates who plan to apply to law school
What: Intensive weekend to help participants develop the tools they need to understand the application process and become competitive law school applicants
When: July
Where: A seminar usually is held on the East Coast and on the West Coast.
Deadline: April
Cost: Free

Attitude Is Essential (AIE)

Who Is Eligible: College graduates who have been accepted into an ABA-accredited law school
What: Intensive pre-law weekend designed to introduce and prepare students for the rigors of law school. Those who successfully complete the seminar become CLEO Associates
When: July
Where: A seminar usually is held on the East Coast and on the West Coast.
Deadline: May
Cost: Free

Mid-Winter Academic Enrichment Seminar

Who Is Eligible: All CLEO Fellows and Associates
What: An intensive weekend of devoted to academic counseling and improving test taking skills
Where: Various locations
When: February
Cost: Free

Mid-Summer Professional Development Seminar and Career Fair

Who Is Eligible: All CLEO Fellows and Associates who are rising second and third-year law students
What: Weekend seminar focusing on career development and community service
When: June or July
Where: Various locations
Cost: Free

Mid-Winter Bar Preparation Seminar
Who Is Eligible: CLEO Fellows and Associates who are third-year law students.
What: Weekend seminars designed to introduce graduating law students to the demands of preparing for the bar examination
Where: Various locations
When: Early January
Cost: Free

Please visit our websites: www.cleodivercitynetwork.org or www.cleoscholars.org. CLEO is funded by the U.S. Department of Education through the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program. We are located at 740 15th Street, NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20005. Our email address is cleo@abanet.org and the telephone number is (202)828-6100.