蜜桃影像

蜜桃影像 School of Law has announced a groundbreaking, one-of-a-kind partnership with ® to address the legal desert crisis in Central Washington and support the academic and bar success of all SU law students.

Through a new five-year grant from AccessLex, the law school will launch the Central Washington Hybrid Hub Pipeline Initiative, based at  on the Yakama Nation Reservation.  

This new pipeline-to-licensure collaboration with AccessLex follows the success of the law school’s earlier participation in the LSAC PLUS Pipeline Program, which opened pathways for students from historically underrepresented backgrounds to pursue law degrees. This partnership will extend and expand upon that mission to create a sustainable pipeline from Central Washington’s colleges and residents to law school and, ultimately, back into their local communities. 

A Pathway to Justice in Central Washington 

Central Washington, including the Yakima Valley, faces , particularly in in the areas of public-interest and criminal justice. The region’s rural character, limited higher education institutions and absence of a brick-and-mortar law school have contributed to what experts call a “legal desert.” 

Local bar associations have reported persistent job vacancies despite offering signing bonuses aimed at attracting lawyers, which is substantially limiting access to lawyers and legal services, especially for the burgeoning underrepresented and marginalized communities in the region.

SU Law’s new program seeks to change that by cultivating homegrown legal talent from within Central Washington. By providing aspiring lawyers with academic support, mentorship and exposure to the legal profession, the initiative helps them see a law degree not only as an attainable goal but also as a locally accessible means of giving back to their community.

“The extraordinary generosity of AccessLex will help us turbocharge our Central Washington Hybrid Hub pipeline efforts, providing access to affordable legal education to promising students already in Central Washington who, ultimately, will become licensed attorneys helping bridge the justice gap in that sprawling legal desert,” says Dean Anthony E. Varona.

“By investing in Central Washington students, we’re creating a virtuous cycle where local residents become local lawyers who serve local needs. We thank AccessLex Institute for appreciating the value and potential in our hybrid hub and pipeline initiatives. It was clear to us from the start that our access-driven missions were very much aligned.” 

A Hybrid Model Rooted in Place and Purpose 

Through this partnership students in the school’s  will be able to complete their legal education while remaining in Central Washington, accessing the resources of the hybrid hub. There, they can access physical study spaces, library resources, intellectual life and alumni networking events, clinical or externship opportunities and adjunct-taught law courses originating from Central Washington.

“This collaboration with AccessLex allows us to bring law school to the people,” says Bree Blackhorse, the inaugural director of the Central Washington Hybrid Hub and an Assistant U.S. Attorney based in Yakima. “The partnership will open doors to law students who might never have thought this path possible and, in doing so, will help close the justice gap across Central Washington.”

Participants in the pipeline initiative will receive mentorship, guidance on admissions and financial planning, LSAT preparation and professional-identity formation activities. Each year, the program will host intensive weekend sessions and extended workshops to build confidence, community and the skills required for law-school admission and success. 

Empowering Future Legal Leaders

A key component of this partnership will bring Helix Bar Review by AccessLex® directly into the law school curriculum, giving every JD student access to exceptional, results-oriented bar preparation. By connecting innovative academic success resources during law school with comprehensive post-grad bar exam support, this initiative is designed to help graduates pass the bar on their first attempt.

“This … collaboration with SU Law embodies the AccessLex Institute commitment to supporting aspiring lawyers across the full spectrum from admission to law school to admission to practice,” says Christopher P. Chapman, president and CEO of AccessLex Institute. “And it further highlights our shared commitment to increase access to legal education for historically underrepresented communities.” 

Learn more about the School of Law’s .