 
      CHAPTER 28--HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE
 
     SUBCHAPTER VII--GRADUATE AND POSTSECONDARY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS
 
                   Part A--Graduate Education Programs
 
   subpart 3--thurgood marshall legal educational opportunity program
 
Sec. 1136. Legal educational opportunity program


(a) Program authority

    The Secretary shall carry out a program to be known as the 
``Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program'' designed to 
provide low-income, minority, or disadvantaged college students with the 
information, preparation, and financial assistance to gain access to and 
complete law school study.

(b) Eligibility

    A college student is eligible for assistance under this section if 
the student is--
        (1) from a low-income family;
        (2) a minority; or
        (3) from an economically or otherwise disadvantaged background.

(c) Contract or grant authorized

    The Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with, or make a 
grant to, the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, for a period of 
not less than 5 years--
        (1) to identify college students who are from low-income 
    families, are minorities, or are from disadvantaged backgrounds 
    described in subsection (b)(3) of this section;
        (2) to prepare such students for study at accredited law 
    schools;
        (3) to assist such students to select the appropriate law 
    school, make application for entry into law school, and receive 
    financial assistance for such study;
        (4) to provide support services to such students who are first-
    year law students to improve retention and success in law school 
    studies; and
        (5) to motivate and prepare such students with respect to law 
    school studies and practice in low-income communities.

(d) Services provided

    In carrying out the purposes described in subsection (c) of this 
section, the contract or grant shall provide for the delivery of 
services through prelaw information resource centers, summer institutes, 
midyear seminars, and other educational activities, conducted under this 
section. Such services may include--
        (1) information and counseling regarding--
            (A) accredited law school academic programs, especially 
        tuition, fees, and admission requirements;
            (B) course work offered and required for graduation;
            (C) faculty specialties and areas of legal emphasis; and
            (D) undergraduate preparatory courses and curriculum 
        selection;

        (2) tutoring and academic counseling, including assistance in 
    preparing for bar examinations;
        (3) prelaw mentoring programs, involving law school faculty, 
    members of State and local bar associations, and retired and sitting 
    judges, justices, and magistrates;
        (4) assistance in identifying preparatory courses and material 
    for the law school aptitude or admissions tests;
        (5) summer institutes for Thurgood Marshall Fellows that expose 
    the Fellows to a rigorous curriculum that emphasizes abstract 
    thinking, legal analysis, research, writing, and examination 
    techniques; and
        (6) midyear seminars and other educational activities that are 
    designed to reinforce reading, writing, and studying skills of 
    Thurgood Marshall Fellows.

(e) Duration of provision of services

    The services described in subsection (d) of this section may be 
provided--
        (1) prior to the period of law school study;
        (2) during the period of law school study; and
        (3) during the period following law school study and prior to 
    taking a bar examination.

(f) Subcontracts and subgrants

    For the purposes of planning, developing, or delivering one or more 
of the services described in subsection (d) of this section, the Council 
on Legal Education Opportunity shall enter into subcontracts with, and 
make subgrants to, institutions of higher education, law schools, public 
and private agencies and organizations, and combinations of such 
institutions, schools, agencies, and organizations.

(g) Stipends

    The Secretary shall annually establish the maximum stipend to be 
paid (including allowances for participant travel and for the travel of 
the dependents of the participant) to Thurgood Marshall Fellows for the 
period of participation in summer institutes and midyear seminars. A 
Fellow may be eligible for such a stipend only if the Thurgood Marshall 
Fellow maintains satisfactory academic progress toward the Juris Doctor 
or Bachelor of Laws degree, as determined by the respective 
institutions.

(h) Authorization of appropriations

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 and each of the 4 succeeding fiscal 
years.

(Pub. L. 89-329, title VII, Sec. 721, as added Pub. L. 105-244, title 
VII, Sec. 701, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1794.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1101, as added 
Pub. L. 102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 784, 
stated findings of Congress, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 105-244, Sec. 3, 
title VII, Sec. 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, effective Oct. 
1, 1998. See section 1139 of this title.
    Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1101, as 
added Pub. L. 99-498, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 
1568, stated Congressional findings and purpose relating to partnerships 
for economic development, prior to the general amendment of subchapter 
XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 102-325.
    Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1101, as 
added Pub. L. 96-374, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1491, 
stated Congressional findings and declaration of purpose, prior to the 
general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 99-498.
    Another prior section 1136, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1101, as 
added Pub. L. 90-575, title II, Sec. 281, Oct. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 1048; 
amended Pub. L. 92-318, title I, Sec. 191(a), (b), June 23, 1972, 86 
Stat. 323, authorized a program for grants and contracts covering the 
establishment of a law school clinical experiences regimen, prior to the 
general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-374.
    A prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89-329 was renumbered section 341 and 
is classified to section 1066 of this title.
    Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89-329 was classified to 
section 1132c of this title, prior to the general amendment of part A of 
this subchapter by Pub. L. 102-325.
    Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89-329 was classified to 
section 1132c of this title, prior to the general amendment of this 
subchapter by Pub. L. 99-498.
    Another prior section 721 of Pub. L. 89-329 was classified to 
section 1132b of this title, prior to the general amendment of this 
subchapter by Pub. L. 96-374.
    Prior sections 1136a to 1136h were repealed by Pub. L. 105-244, 
Sec. 3, title VII, Sec. 702, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1585, 1803, 
effective Oct. 1, 1998.
    Section 1136a, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1102, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 785, stated 
purpose of and authorized program for urban community service 
assistance. See section 1139a of this title.
    A prior section 1136a, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1102, as added 
Pub. L. 99-498, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1568, 
related to use of economic development funds, prior to the general 
amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 102-325.
    Another prior section 1136a, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1102, as 
added Pub. L. 96-374, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1491, 
authorized appropriations for fiscal years 1981 to 1985 for urban grant 
university program, prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of 
this chapter by Pub. L. 99-498.
    Another prior section 1136a, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1102, as 
added Pub. L. 90-575, title II, Sec. 281, Oct. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 1048; 
amended Pub. L. 92-318, title I, Sec. 191(a), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 
323, related to required applications for participation in law school 
clinical experiences program, prior to the general amendment of 
subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-374.
    Section 1136b, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1103, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 785, related to 
applications for urban community service grants. See section 1139b of 
this title.
    A prior section 1136b, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1103, as added 
Pub. L. 99-498, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1569, 
related to requirements for economic development grant applications, 
prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. 
L. 102-325.
    Another prior section 1136b, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1103, as 
added Pub. L. 96-374, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1492, 
authorized grants to urban universities, prior to the general amendment 
of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 99-498.
    Another prior section 1136b, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1103, as 
added Pub. L. 90-575, title II, Sec. 281, Oct. 16, 1968, 82 Stat. 1049; 
amended Pub. L. 92-318, title I, Sec. 191(c), June 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 
323; Pub. L. 94-482, title I, Sec. 172, Oct. 12, 1976, 90 Stat. 2164; 
Pub. L. 96-49, Sec. 11, Aug. 13, 1979, 93 Stat. 354, authorized 
appropriations for the law school clinical experiences program, prior to 
the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. L. 96-
374.
    Section 1136c, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1104, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 786, related to 
allowable activities. See section 1139c of this title.
    Another prior section 1136c, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1104, as 
added Pub. L. 96-374, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1492, 
placed geographical limitations on assistance to urban universities, 
prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this chapter by Pub. 
L. 99-498.
    Section 1136d, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1105, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 786, related to 
peer review. See section 1139d of this title.
    Another prior section 1136d, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1105, as 
added Pub. L. 96-374, title XI, Sec. 1101, Oct. 3, 1980, 94 Stat. 1492, 
defined terms, prior to the general amendment of subchapter XI of this 
chapter by Pub. L. 99-498.
    Section 1136e, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1106, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 786; amended Pub. 
L. 103-208, Sec. 2(j)(46), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2485, related to 
disbursement of funds. See section 1139e of this title.
    Section 1136f, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1107, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 787, related to 
designation of Urban Grant Institutions. See section 1139f of this 
title.
    Section 1136g, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1108, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 787, defined 
terms ``urban area'' and ``eligible institution''. See section 1139g of 
this title.
    Section 1136h, Pub. L. 89-329, title XI, Sec. 1109, as added Pub. L. 
102-325, title XI, Sec. 1101, July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 787, authorized 
appropriations for urban community service program. See section 1139h of 
this title.
