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.