As the state and country become more diverse, the need increases to develop leaders who possess diverse experiences, talents, and capacities for leadership. To meet this need, Colorado Law has launched a program that transforms the way we think about diversity and cultivating leadership.
The听Leaders in Law and Community听(LILAC) Fellowship program addresses diversity in the broadest sense by recruiting and developing students from backgrounds underrepresented in law schools and in the legal profession. LILAC Fellows are from financially disadvantaged backgrounds, have diverse cultural identities, or are individuals who have overcome significant obstacles. With their experiences, backgrounds and accomplishments, LILAC Fellows will have the potential to use their law degrees to be transformational leaders in law and community.
In identifying and recruiting LILAC Fellows, Colorado Law has cast nets wider and deeper to find students who will not just succeed along traditional lines, but who will also use their law degrees to make powerful contributions to society. We are looking for students who bring diverse perspectives to Colorado Law - perspectives from cultural or personal identities; from disadvantaged backgrounds; from personal or work experiences that are atypical of law school applicants; or from seemingly insurmountable obstacles that, through resilience and determination, - were overcome before law school. We are looking beyond commonly used criteria - LSATs and GPAs - to indicators of success such as community leadership, perseverance, and demonstrated ability to problem solve and think critically.
LILAC is a comprehensive three-year program that educates fellows and cultivates their leadership potential through:
- A three-year scholarship that covers (1) the full cost of tuition and fees for the first year of law school, either in-state or out-of-state tuition; and听(2) the cost of in-state tuition and fees for the second and third years of law school, specifically fall and spring semesters only (if summer courses are taken, tuition and fees are not covered);
- Dean鈥檚 fellowships to provide the option of stipends for either public service work or a faculty research assistantship during the summer after the 1L year;
- Mentors drawn from committed 2Ls and 3Ls and leaders in the legal profession, business, government, and non-profit sectors, including Colorado Law alumni and friends;
- Community engagement opportunities that connect LILAC Fellows to听Colorado Law alumni and friends to help build 鈥渟ocial capital;"
- LILAC Fellows Leadership Speakers Roundtable听with guest speakers who are notable leaders in their communities;听
- Intensive Symposium-style course in the fall of their 2L year that may examine such topics as social problems, law reform, or leadership; and prepares them for a service project to be completed before graduation;
- Public service projects developed by LILAC Fellows during their 2L and 3L years to听drive change in communities in Colorado and around the world, while providing opportunities to exercise听and hone their own听leadership capabilities;
- Travel opportunities associated with externships, conferences or other programming that complement the classroom experience and broaden the Fellows鈥� horizons; and,
- Academic support, as needed,听will be readily available to help fellows thrive in the classroom.
The cost per year for the Leaders in Law and Community fellowship program is estimated to be $240,000. To donate to support this transformational program, visit . 听If you have additional questions or comments about LILAC or would like to volunteer as a mentor, please email law.admissions@colorado.edu.听