Digitizing the Application Process for a Law School Boot Camp
American Indian Law Center, Inc.
Annual Pre-Law Summer Institute Digital Application
CLIENT
American Indian Law Center, Inc.
SERVICES
Capacity Strengthening, Creative Direction, Website Design
Ready to Evolve
Since 1967, the American Indian Law Center (AILC) has offered American Indian and Alaska Native law students the opportunity to attend the Pre-Law Summer Institute (PLSI), an intensive two-month program that prepares them for the rigors of law school. Until 2023, prospective attendees of PLSI submitted a paper application to this competitive program.
Going Digital
AILC hired WCA to design, implement, and promote a digital, web-based application form with the hope of increasing the visibility of key application details and reducing the administrative load of processing paper forms.
Our Process
We began by reviewing all of PLSI’s previous applications and conducting research to determine the best form-building tool available given project constraints and AILC’s pre-existing WordPress website. We determined the necessary timeline for building the digital application form prior to the annual application launch in January. WCA worked with AILC’s director and staff throughout the fall to compile the questions and answers, and then determined their ideal format (dropdowns, radio buttons, conditional logic, and other considerations). We drafted the form and after two rounds of review from AILC and several virtual working sessions, we launched the new digital application form with two weeks to spare.
We’ve now annually updated and relaunched the application twice, making minor adjustments to ease user experience and clarify directions. We also created assets and graphics for use on social media and in AILC newsletters to spread the word about PLSI’s key application deadlines and required documents.
Streamlined Applications
After over 50 years of processing paper applications for PLSI, AILC’s administrative staff now saves some time that is better spent building up their many other program offerings. Application forms don’t lag in the mail and there is no more scanning of forms or manually typing in answers on applicants’ behalf. Plus, students can start and stop their application progress without losing their work as they complete it. AILC staff simply log into their website to view applications as they come in, and they can view an auto-populated Google sheet of answers from submitted application forms. This streamlined submission process allows AILC staff and PLSI candidates to save time and stay focused on the excitement and richness of this important program.
