Law students will get an extra opportunity to gain educational experience in their field starting this year at USI.

IU’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law has partnered with USI to create the University of Southern Indiana Law Scholar program.

The first two students from USI will be chosen to begin their legal education at IU McKinney in the Fall of 2015. Every year, two students or alumni will be nominated for admission to McKinney.

Assistant Professor of Political Science and Public Administration Nicholas LaRowe said less students are applying to law schools than in previous years, which has caused schools to increase recruitment tactics, and that the partnership will open new doors for students.

“Law school is expensive and this partnership provides law students with a substantial scholarship and a one-on-one guided study opportunity,” LaRowe said.

LaRowe, who is also the pre-law coordinator, said the partnership gives students the opportunity to study under a law professor and allows them to be closer to the center of the government.

“This is where the opportunities are,” he said.

The partnership started when representatives from McKinney approached USI and asked if they would be interested working together.

IU and USI have had close ties in the past, he said, and in the future they hope to be able to select more than two students a year.

“IU, in my opinion, offers the most professional programs in the state. It is motivation to keep students here for law school but to also bring them to IU,” said sophomore pre-law student Rachel Johnson at USI.

Johnson said what she likes about law school is that any major can apply as long as they take an LSAT, which she said is similar to the SAT. In order to qualify, students must be nominated by USI, and IU representatives will review academic performance, letters of recommendations, volunteer and leadership experience and the student’s area of interest in the legal profession.

Chosen students will receive a minimum of a half-tuition scholarship, paid employment as a research assistant after attending 30 credit hours of law school and the ability to participate in several experiential learning opportunities.

“Going to law school has always been my dream, and now others who also have that dream have a path,” said IU Maurer Law student Samantha Schu.

The USI graduate said partnerships like this encourage students to continue their education when they don’t think they can make it.

“I know that when I started applying to law school, I was terrified I would not get accepted. There was not very much organized support encouraging my dream or guiding me on my path to law school,” Schu said.

The support that these partnerships provide for students is outstanding, she said, and USI students should appreciate the amazing opportunity they have with McKinney.

The deadline for nominations is Feb. 1.