Students invited to apply for new alumni-funded Law School Application Support Fund

Thanks to generous Ohio University alumni support, the Center for Law, Justice and Culture (CLJC) invites students to apply for help with law school application costs from the new CLJC Law School Application Support Fund.

Alumni Carol Bryant, AB ’70, and Ret. Col. Fred Bryant, Esq., AB ’69, both earned degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences, hers in psychology and his in English.

The couple established the fund to help make getting into law school more accessible and affordable for Ohio University students. The fund can assist with costs including an LSAT preparation program or LSAT tutors, costs for signing up for the LSAT, Credential Assembly Service, Law School Reports, law school application fees, and any other costs reasonably associated with applying to law school.

During his time at OHIO, Fred Bryant ran cross-country and was very involved in ROTC as well as a military fraternity on campus. He planned on serving in the Army, not going to law school. It wasn’t until he was serving as an infantry officer six years later that an advisor encouraged him to look into law school. He eventually attended the University of Puget Sound’s law school in Tacoma (now the Seattle University School of Law) while stationed in Washington.

His law degree enhanced his life of service. Not only did he spend 30 years in the Army as a 2nd commissioned lieutenant, but he also substitute taught at the Fayette County schools, worked for the Government Military Affairs Committee as a Deputy and Legal Advisor, then spent 12 years directing the redevelopment of former Army Base Gillem in the Atlanta area. Finally, he volunteered 16 years of pro-bono work with a truancy intervention project in Atlanta to find better ways of reaching young people when they are truant, to make sure their truancy doesn’t turn into delinquency and adult criminality.

He said he his time at OHIO helped him throughout his career, just as the Center for Law, Justice and Culture helps students today. 

“I was able to really hone my writing skills, and learning to read and analyze pieces to take a stance in an argument all translates well into being a lawyer,” he said. Bryant has been active with the center's Pre-Law Day, sharing his experiences in the legal profession with students interested in attending law school.

His advice to students interested in law: “Be realistic. If your goal is to go to law school, pick one that is going to suit your needs personally and professionally. Look for a law school that will prepare you to be successful on the bar. Also, think about where you want to practice. Law school is not ridiculously hard like people make it out to be, it’s just a matter of applying yourself like you do in undergrad and making it a priority in your life. You don’t have to decide what you want to do in law school, but take the opportunity to try things you’re interested in.”

Eligibility for the CLJC Law School Application Support Fund

• Open to all majors.
• Must be a currently enrolled Ohio University undergraduate or graduate student.
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Must have demonstrated financial need.
• Preference will be given to applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to law, justice, and culture. This commitment can be demonstrated by a variety of means including, but not limited to, enrollment in the CLJC undergraduate certificate program or M.A. in Law, Justice & Culture, involvement in law related student organizations, and/or attendance at law related events.
• If selected, students must meet with Assistant Director Larry Hayman and attend Pre-Law Day.

How to Apply

Students should apply to the fund no later than March 24 using this form. Applicants should submit:

• Current DARS report.
• Current financial aid award letter from Ohio University.
• Submission of law school application budget, including cost of any LSAT prep program.
• Submission of 250-word essay outlining applicant's commitment to law, justice and culture.

For more information, contact  CLJC Assistant Director and Pre-Law Advisor Larry Hayman, Esq. at hayman@ohio.edu.