Through a collaboration with Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Bradley has crated the Bradley Law Scholar program, which is aimed to help students get into a distinguished law school and minimize student debt.
Each year, Bradley’s Pre-Law Center Director Nicole Meyer and her advisory board will choose two students or alumni for the program and nominate them for acceptance into IU’s law school.
“Bradley nomination does not guarantee acceptance, but they will be given priority,” Meyer said. “The law school is putting faith in us to choose great students who we think will succeed at this law school.”
Once students are admitted, they will receive a minimum of a half-tuition scholarship, designation as a program Fellow in the student’s chosen area of study, paid employment as a research assistant following completion of 30 law school credit hours and a guaranteed experiential learning opportunity, which is typically an internship. All scholarship money comes from IU.
“[This program exists] mainly to help minimize debt because law school is so expensive,” Meyer said. “Not only does it do that, but it [also] gives students these experiential learning opportunities before they even start practicing.”
According to Meyer, the reason Bradley is able to collaborate with this particular law school is that Bradley alumnus Gary Roberts (’70) used to be the law school’s dean.
“Gary Roberts is a highly regarded alumnus of Bradley University [and] a highly regarded sports attorney,” Meyer said. “I’m trying to build this relationship with various law schools, and this law school was the first because we have great connections with [them].”
According to Provost David Glassman, IU has allowed Bradley to establish a nomination procedure of its own. He said they are currently in the process of developing the guidelines, but once completed, they will be announced to students.
Interested students need to apply to the Bradley Law Scholar program by Jan. 1, to the McKinney Law School by Feb. 1 and, if admitted, make their acceptance decisions by April 1.
