CHAPTER 13. INDIANA CONFERENCE FOR LEGAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY
IC 33-24-13
Chapter 13. Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity
IC 33-24-13-1
"Program"
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the Indiana
conference for legal education opportunity established by section 2
of this chapter.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-2
Establishment of program; purpose
Sec. 2. The Indiana conference for legal education opportunity is
established to assist Indiana minority, low income, or educationally
disadvantaged college graduates in pursuing a law degree and a
career in the Indiana legal and professional community.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-3
Organization and administration of program; advisory committee
Sec. 3. (a) The program shall be organized and administered by
the chief justice of the supreme court. The chief justice shall appoint
an advisory committee composed of eight (8) members as follows:
(1) Two (2) practicing attorneys.
(2) Two (2) judges.
(3) Two (2) Indiana law school professors or administrators.
(4) Two (2) members representing community groups.
(b) The chief justice shall serve as chair of the advisory
committee.
(c) Appointed members of the committee serve for three (3) year
terms and may be reappointed.
(d) The committee shall solicit applications and select persons for
the program who:
(1) have earned a bachelor's degree;
(2) have applied to an Indiana law school;
(3) have demonstrated the interest, motivation, and capacity to
earn a law degree; and
(4) would benefit from the special training offered by the
program.
(e) The committee shall award annual stipends to certified
graduates of the program.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-4
Preparatory course of study required; instructors
Sec. 4. (a) The program must provide for an intensive course of
study to prepare the students selected for the demands of a law
school education through classroom discussion and instruction in
legal research, writing, and analysis.
(b) The program shall be taught by law professors and others from
the legal profession and shall be held at an Indiana law school during
the summer months.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-5
Financial assistance
Sec. 5. (a) The program must provide financial assistance in the
form of an annual stipend for those students who successfully
complete the course of study and become certified graduates of the
program.
(b) To be eligible for the annual stipend, certified graduates must
be admitted to an Indiana law school, enroll on a full-time basis, and
maintain good academic standing. However, for good cause and to
advance the purposes of the program, the advisory committee may
waive the requirement that a certified graduate must enroll on a
full-time basis.
(c) The stipend may be awarded for up to three (3) successive
academic years, if the student remains eligible. However, for good
cause, the advisory committee may approve the award of a stipend to
a student for more than three (3) successive academic years if:
(1) the student requires more than three (3) successive academic
years to earn a law degree; and
(2) the total amount of the stipend that is awarded to the student
does not exceed the amount the student would have been
awarded if the student had been enrolled:
(A) on a full-time basis; and
(B) for up to three (3) successive academic years.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-6
Development of programs and opportunities in furtherance of
program purposes
Sec. 6. The courts of the state are encouraged and requested to
develop programs and opportunities to further the purposes of the
program.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.
IC 33-24-13-7
Appropriation from general fund
Sec. 7. During every state fiscal year, there is appropriated from
the state general fund to the office of judicial administration, division
of state court administration, six hundred twenty-five thousand
dollars ($625,000) to be used for the Indiana conference for legal
education opportunity established by this chapter.
As added by P.L.98-2004, SEC.3.