Who is eligible to apply for the MTO Fellows Program?
To be eligible to apply for the MTO Fellows Program, you must:
- intend to apply for admission to begin law school in the fall of 2022 (i.e., applicants must be at least college juniors by spring 2021; we also welcome applications from individuals who have previously graduated and are working);
- be able to participate in monthly workshops from March-December 2021;
- have a 3.0 minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA (including community college); and
- have the potential to contribute meaningfully to the diversity of the legal profession. This includes, but is not limited to, candidates who are members of racial or ethnic minority groups; LGBTQ; from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds; or people with disabilities.
Am I still eligible to apply if I have participated in another legal pipeline program?
Yes.
Is the MTO Fellows Program open to undocumented students? If so, are they required to have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)?
The program is open to all undocumented students. There is no DACA requirement.
How do I apply?
To apply, please complete the 2021 MTO Fellows Program Application Form, available online here. Note that applications without the following attachments and/or that do not answer every prompt will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed:
- resume (max 2 pages);
- personal statement (max 500 words – please include a word count).
- Your personal statement should be an example of the type of essay you intend to submit with your law school applications. For example, past applicants have discussed how their backgrounds, experiences, interests, or perspectives would enable them to contribute to the law school community and the legal profession.
- short-answer questions (max 250 words per prompt – please include a word count for each prompt and upload all answers in ONE PDF or Word document)
- What barriers do you expect to encounter in applying to or attending law school? How do you plan to overcome these barriers? Please provide specific examples of how you have overcome these barriers in your undergraduate and/or professional career, if possible.
- What strategies have you used or do you plan to use to engage and build community with your peers in a virtual setting? Please provide specific examples from your undergraduate and/or professional career, if possible.
- What strategies have you used or do you plan to use to best prepare yourself for the LSAT, assuming that some portion of our LSAT course may have to be virtual? Please provide specific examples from your undergraduate and/or professional career, if possible.
- all academic transcripts, including community college, summer courses, and high school coursework that counted for college credit and/or graduate transcripts where applicable (official or unofficial; 3.0 minimum cumulative GPA required); and
Which transcripts should I submit?
Please submit official or unofficial transcripts (photocopies and/or online versions are acceptable) reflecting all of your undergraduate coursework, including any courses taken at a community college, summer courses, or high school coursework that counted for college credit, as well any graduate coursework where applicable.
How long should my resume be?
No more than 2 pages.
Is there a prompt for the personal statement?
Your personal statement should be an example of the type of essay you intend to submit with your law school applications. For example, past applicants have discussed how their backgrounds, experiences, interests, or perspectives would enable them to contribute to the law school community and the legal profession.
Will I receive confirmation once my application is complete?
Yes. You will receive an email confirmation once we have received your completed application.
When is the application deadline?
All application materials – application form, resume, transcripts, personal statement, and short-answer questions – must be received by Sunday, January 31, 2021. The online application form will be disabled and applications will not be accepted after this date.
What are the program dates for accepted applicants?
The 2021 MTO Fellows Program will run from March 2021 through December 2021.
Can I participate in the MTO Fellows Program if I am an MTO employee?
No.
Do I have to live in the Los Angeles County area to participate in the program?
Because we are dedicated to expanding the pipeline of diverse attorneys in the Los Angeles area, we have a preference for candidates who are normally based in the greater Los Angeles area or who plan to relocate here following graduation. We hope to return to in-person LSAT classes and workshops as soon as it is safe to do so.
Will you offer travel stipends to attend the monthly workshops or the LSAT prep course?
No. We do not offer travel stipends. In the event that it is safe to meet in person, we will validate parking at our office.
When are the LSAT preparation courses typically held and how often do they occur?
We determine the schedule for the LSAT prep course in the spring. In general, classes take place several weeknights per week, with supplemental sessions over the weekend.
What is expected of Fellows who are offered admission into the program?
Fellows are expected to participate in every workshop; act professionally, including meeting deadlines set forth by the program; participate in the LSAT preparation course; prepare and submit at least 15 law school applications by November 1, 2021; and participate in the program from March 2021 through December 2021.
Can I contact Munger, Tolles & Olson if I have additional questions?
Yes. Please send questions via email to diversity@mto.com.