Summer Pre-Law Program Students Join Campus Through July 29

Photo by Jackie Stites

(l-r) Front Row: Kortney White, Victoria Whiteside, Kylie Smith, Briana Kelly, Diana Dominguez, Caleb Briggs, Alexis Wallace; Middle Row: Kelven Hadley, Luciano Ramirez, Jada Henderson, Danielle Zapata, Suzanna Gomez, Valery Valdez-Pinto, Shelby Santiago, Pauline Onkware; Back Row: Edwin Serrano, Jonathan Valley, DeAndre Martin, Blake Givens, Cauahtemoc Zizumbo Jr., Melodie Kukome

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas School of Law hosts 21 students from 13 undergraduate institutions for its annual Summer Pre-law Program, known as SPPARK, which is supported by a grant from the Walmart Legal Department.

The program is designed to expand diversity in law schools and in the legal profession by providing a pipeline for underrepresented population groups to enter law school. Participants completed approximately 15 hours of guided self-study before arriving at the university for the July 12-29 in-residence part of the program.

While on campus, these college juniors, seniors and graduates will receive an intensive experience consisting of academic courses, professional development seminars and excursions and preparation for the law school entrance exam, known as the LSAT.

The law school's summer pre-law program was initially established in 2012 through a grant from the Law School Admission Council and Discoverlaw.org. The University of Arkansas School of Law has been able to continue the program with independent funds, a rare occurrence among the LSAC-funded programs.  Approximately 80 students have successfully completed the program since it began.

Follow the SPPARK experience by going to the University of Arkansas School of Law Facebook page or using #SPPARK16.