OUR HISTORY...
MLER was founded in the early 1970s by Ronald E. Kennedy, an Associate at Sidley
& Austin, after he became aware of the low passage rate of African-Americans taking the Illinois Bar Examination.
With the assistance of other professionals and students, Kennedy began to compile statistics on the passage rates; the statistics
showed that the passage rate for African Americans since 1970 was 30% - 35% compared to the 75% - 85% for the general
population. Kennedy suspected that the statistics were similar for Latino candidates.
In 1974, Kennedy joined the faculty of the Northwestern University Law School.
In an effort to improve bar passage rates among minorities, Kennedy created a supplemental bar review program. Kennedy began to tutor minority graduates of Northwestern Law School in his home on an
individual basis. He focused on writing, managing time, perfecting study habits, and coping with the stress inherent
in preparing for a two-day examination .
In the summer of 1975, Ann Williams, now a United States Appellate Court Judge
for the 7th Circuit, learned of Professor Kennedy’s success and tried to join his program, but was told that the program
was limited to Northwestern graduates. Williams, interested in expanding the program, met with Northwestern graduates
and Professor Kennedy to discuss expanding the program to include graduates from other schools.
The “Kennedy Program” was initiated in Chicago in the summer of
1975, and was opened to law graduates from other institutions. In the
summer of 1977, the program was substantially expanded with the help of generous financial contributions from the Cook County
Bar Foundation and several individuals.
In the summer of 1977, the Program was conducted by a newly formed, not-for-profit
corporation called Minority Legal Educational Resources (“MLER”). Of the twenty-nine law
graduates completing the summer of 1977 MLER Program, twenty-three passed the July Illinois Bar Examination; this produced
a passage rate of 79.3 percent.
Based on the success of the Program in 1977, MLER decided to expand in the summer
of 1978. With the support of Northwestern University, Richard Conviser, and financial contributions from several individuals,
MLER was able to accommodate all minority law school graduates taking the Illinois Bar Examination. Whether a first-time
test taker or a repeat student, MLER was prepared with resources to accomodate those interested in utilizing its services.
TODAY...
MLER continues to operate as a not-for-profit corporation in Illinois.
The corporation is led by a Board of Directors comprised of practicing attorneys who volunteer their time to insure the efficient
running of the Program and delivery of MLER services. The current Board of Directors include:
Joi Thomas, President
Candice Smith, Vice President
Janelle Hanks-Williams, Recording Secretary
Constance Wright, Corresponding Secretary
Matthew Ingram, Treasurer
Courtney Joiner, Member
Arlette Porter, Member
Marques Rice, Member
Lauren Threatte, Member
Joselynne Gardner McKoy, Member
OUR VOLUNTEERS....
The MLER Bar Review Program (“Program”) has been an exclusively volunteer effort throughout its history. The tutors and board members are largely minority attorneys in private, government
and corporate practice in Chicago. All tutors are attorneys, in good standing, licensed to practice law
in the State of Illinois. The extreme devotion of
the large number of volunteers has been the primary source for the success of the Program. The volunteers are increasingly coming from the ranks of those who have participated in the Program.
