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    Guidance for the Creation and Expansion of Law School Pre-Law Pathway Programs

    Learning Outcomes for Pathway Courses

    No two Pathway Program curricula will be exactly alike. For example, the primary component of the IU-McKinney Pathway Program was a four-course, for-credit, online sequence designed to equip Pathway Scholars (undergraduate pathway students) with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in the first year of law school. These courses were generally developed by faculty working in partnership with course designers for asynchronous delivery using the Canvas Learning Management System. Ideally, if a program is in its beginning stages, designing faculty can teach their respective courses for the first two cohorts, and as the program matures, other faculty may be assigned to teach in the core courses.

    If the institution chooses to have a hybrid or primarily online course delivery system as opposed to an in-person format, certain other considerations are paramount. Optimal online course development requires attention to several principles. These may have an impact on the cost of the program, but the investment is worth it in terms of pedagogical quality.

    In particular, the following principles should be considered:

    • Faculty must retain autonomy to develop and teach classes in a manner consistent with their independent vision and judgment, so long as that is exercised in light of program goals.
    • Faculty must either be experienced online course designers or work in partnership with a professional course designer.
    • Faculty must meet together on a recurring basis to ensure program goals are met across the curricular pathway.
    • Faculty must be compensated sufficiently to ensure their attention to the program (as distinct from other existing scholarly, pedagogical, or independent projects).
    • Faculty must be involved in the development of MOU agreements for faculty involvement in the program.

    Pathway Programs can best pursue these goals by recruiting sought-after faculty, compensating for course design efforts, and asking faculty to sign MOU agreements ensuring their cooperation with all aspects of the program. (See our sample MOU.)

    As the sample budget outline demonstrates, the cost of faculty—both in course development and in teaching—is the biggest cost driver for the program. It may be possible to reduce those expenses, though any program competes against other opportunities in recruiting faculty to develop and teach courses. In the McKinney program, a remuneration scheme was created that matched the remuneration the school offered for online course development.

    Learning Outcomes for Pathway Courses

    Establishing and measuring learning outcomes for all courses has now become an expected part of higher and legal education. The ABA Office of Diversity and Inclusion, in consultation with Pathway Programs throughout the nation, has developed these program learning outcomes, which can be advanced in individual Pathway courses, whether the format is in-person or online:

    • Achieve increased knowledge of the legal profession and opportunities to become a member of the profession.
    • Enhance critical thinking skills with the effect of preparing student Pathway Scholars for success on the LSAT, in law school courses, on the bar examination, and in legal employment both during and after law school.
    • Enhance reading comprehension skills with the effect of preparing student Pathway Scholars for success on the LSAT, in law school courses, on the bar examination, and in legal employment both during and after law school.
    • Develop legal writing skills with the effect of preparing student Pathway Scholars for success in law school courses, on the bar examination, and in legal employment both during and after law school.
    • Develop study skills and test preparation strategies for success in undergraduate courses, on the LSAT, in law school, and on the bar exam.
    • Develop a strong network of colleagues including classmates and mentors who will facilitate entry and long-term success in the legal arena.
    Build Mentorship Into a Pathway Program