LaunchNET Supports Law School Application Resource

Barbara Palmer, Ph D , a professor of political science and the Director of Legal Studies and Pre-Law Advising at Baldwin Wallace University, has channeled her 10 years of experience as a Pre-Law Advisor into a business aimed at helping students navigate the complex process of applying to law school. Applawz is a law school application resource center dedicated to providing law school applicants with the highest quality information about the law-school application process.

Getting Inspired

A Burton D. Morgan Foundation Morgan Startup Grant recipient, Palmer was inspired by her students to start Applawz. “There are lots of LSAT Prep companies out there, but there are no services that provide students with guidance and insider tips about the entire law school application process.” No matter where Palmer’s students were applying, they all agreed that the process was a roller coaster of emotions, causing a great deal of stress and costing a great deal of time and money. While Palmer noticed that her students certainly needed help managing the entire process of law school applications, she also recognized another key need: encouragement.

The Vision

“My mission is to provide all law school applicants the highest quality information about the process, keep them organized, reduce their stress, and have some fun.”

Applawz helps students applying to law school by explaining each step of the process, helping students get and stay organized as well as set and meet deadlines, and of course offering some much-needed encouragement (notice how Applawz sounds like applause?).?

Palmer weaves this culture of encouragement and fun throughout her business. Applawz has a TikTok page featuring Professor Palm, the sock puppet Chief Silliness Officer of Applawz. These TikToks offer important tips and information in a fun, accessible way, with several Professor Palm videos having reached over 1800 views.?

The Services

Applawz offers a range of free resources, from study tips to scholarship databases and financial resources. An Applawz membership gets students access to a customizable calendar to help them stay on track, step-by-step explanations for every stage of the law school application process, a to-do list that breaks the process down into achievable parts, an area dedicated to writing down notes, a spreadsheet for organizing their law school lists, and pop-up applause when major tasks get completed (to keep things fun and silly!).?

Support From LaunchNET

Palmer utilized funds from her Burton D. Morgan Foundation Morgan Startup Grant to attend the Midwest Association of Pre-Law Advisors Annual Conference (MAPLA), where she networked with undergraduate pre-law advisors. This opportunity also helped Palmer discover an additional market for Applawz: law school summer programs that give an overview of the law school application process to rising senior undergraduates.?

With her grant funds, Palmer was also able to hire BW students and an alumni to help develop the Applawz social media accounts. This support helped grow the Applawz Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn accounts, increasing the average TikTok views from 100 to 750. “My success on TikTok and LinkedIn would not have happened without this grant.”

Looking Ahead

Palmer hopes to create partnerships with 10 law schools and pre-law programs in the short-term, but her vision doesn’t stop there. “I want Applawz to be a platform that helps transform the legal profession.” Many of Palmer’s students are first generation college students, and she hopes that Applawz can help ease these students’ access to law school. “They don't have the innate knowledge and connections that growing up around people who are lawyers gives you, but they know they want to help people.” Palmer notes that the legal profession needs these students, and that she created Applawz for them, striving to ensure that the voices of underrepresented students are heard in and beyond law school.?

Want to learn more about Barbra Palmer and her venture? Visit the Applawz website to check out her services!

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