Law School Discrimination Forum

[cceschmidt]

Though it appears that Law Schools (along with most other institutions now) are recruiting a diverse group of people, I feel like acceptance to Law School for African-Americans, unless they come from a middle class/ upper class background, is still very difficult. The problem that I have is that I am not from a middle class background, I come from a poor southern, rural public school and will likely have this stigma when I apply.

1. I have records that will not be overlooked
2. I will have hardly anyone to write me a letter of recommendation, as I've always worked, had no time to get to meet teachers.
3. My LSAT score is abysmal for not having time/ability to prepare for it.

The problem I have is that I've worked my ass off for the past 2.5 years, since coming from a rather difficult situation, and I'm going to be judged fully by certain actions/non-actions I've taken. This discriminates not only myself, but a large segment of the population.

Is there any truth to this or should I be more optimistic?

[t-14orbust]

1. Kill the LSAT
2. ???
3. $$$

[Cicero76]

If your LSAT sucks, then no, you will not be admitted. That's not discrimination, that's just how the system works. I know people with records in my class, and some of them came from a southern state. So if you kill the LSAT, then your background and geography don't necessarily need to work against you.

[Tanicius]

Is there any truth to this or should I be more optimistic?

There's a lot of truth to this. However, at the same time, you can also tailor a compelling application based on your racial, educational and class-based hardships. If you apply widely to a large window of schools, you may receive some positive surprises. Anecdotally, I have several African American friends who chose not to apply to more competitive schools because they did not believe it was worth it -- they did not believe that their lower below-median LSAT would make them eligible, which is often not true for black and Hispanic applicants, and they did not believe their backgrounds would be the type of diversity the more competitive schools were looking for.

Focus on what matters: keeping your grades up if you're still in school, and busting as much more ass as you can to get a good LSAT. When you have a confirmed LSAC GPA and an official LSAT score, return to this forum and users will be able to show you the window of schools that are worth applying to. You may be surprised.

[butlerraider1]

If your LSAT sucks, then no, you will not be admitted. That's not discrimination, that's just how the system works..

this

[BillsFan9907]

1. What does it have to do with being black
2. What does it gave to do with being black
3. What does it have to do with being black
.

I've had friends who studied for the LSATs in between battles at the height of the Iraq war. Somehow I don't buy your argument of not having enough time to study.

[aboutmydaylight]

If you score well on the LSAT, basically everything else will be forgiven. Adcoms are well aware of these issues. If you can show that you have the work ethic/ability to do well, you'll get a shot from great schools.

[cceschmidt]

1. What does it have to do with being black
2. What does it gave to do with being black
3. What does it have to do with being black
.

I've had friends who studied for the LSATs in between battles at the height of the Iraq war. Somehow I don't buy your argument of not having enough time to study.

Because there is a stigma towards poor African-Americans. It's called "implicit bias". When employers/admissions officers see an application that clearly reflects a situation such as mine, they automatically apply their preconceived notions of what a poor black southerner is like.

[prezidentv8]

1. What does it have to do with being black
2. What does it gave to do with being black
3. What does it have to do with being black
.

I've had friends who studied for the LSATs in between battles at the height of the Iraq war. Somehow I don't buy your argument of not having enough time to study.

Because there is a stigma towards poor African-Americans. It's called "implicit bias". When employers/admissions officers see an application that clearly reflects a situation such as mine, they automatically apply their preconceived notions of what a poor black southerner is like.

I'd speculate that they don't really care all that much, as they likely view you as either a student loan conduit or an LSAT score, and to the extent that they do care, dat urm bump should compensate just fine.

[beepboopbeep]

I foresee a mod post in about two hours saying "friendly recurring alt/troll has been banned."

[A. Nony Mouse]

I foresee a mod post in about two hours saying "friendly recurring alt/troll has been banned."

You are most prescient.