Professionals in Legal Education Developing Greater Equity
Professionals in Legal Education Developing Greater Equity (PLEDGE) Initiative
The PLEDGE Initiative is designed to enhance knowledge and skills related to using empirical research methods to design, administer, and assess student success programs within legal education. The initiative supports efforts to create inclusive and effective learning environments that benefit all law students.
Launched in 2022 as a partnership between AccessLex Institute and the Southern Education Foundation, PLEDGE is guided by a curriculum developed and executed by the Proctor Institute.
PLEDGE Fellowship
The PLEDGE Fellowship is a 14-month professional development program designed for experienced law school administrators, faculty members, and other professionals who oversee or assess student success initiatives. Fellows will complete a Capstone project, an empirical assessment of a law student-facing program aimed at fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments.
Each Fellowship team—comprised of two Fellows—will focus on one of three key areas in legal education:
- Admission and Access
- Academic Performance
- Bar Exam Performance
Funding and Support Fellowship
Fellowship teams will receive the following resources to support the feasibility and quality of their work:
- Capstone budget: Up to $25,000 for research activities
- Stipend: $4,000 per Fellow
- Access to Capstone design expertise
- Access to professional development coaching
The PLEDGE Initiative is committed to expanding knowledge and evidence-based practices in legal education, ensuring all students have access to effective programs supporting their success.
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