NNLSO Research Grant Program

Program Description

The NNLSO Research Grant Program provides funds to members of the organization to assist NNLSO and the law school community in gaining needed quantifiable information that can be used to inform those who make significant decisions regarding legal education.

Research grants are intended to help recipients cover the direct costs of research projects, including temporary assistance, printing, postage, mainframe computer time and preparation of papers and reports. Grants are not intended to provide a salary or stipend for the grant recipient. Grants are not awarded for program start-up expenses for a particular law school, doctrinal studies, or projects that involve experimental activities. Proposals will be judged on the importance of the questions addressed and the quality of the research designs. Grants will range from $250 - $1,000.

NNLSO reserves the right to withhold project funding if progress reports are not submitted on time. Project milestones and executive summaries may be posted on the NNLSO website. Where appropriate, NNLSO may request that authors adapt their work for publication in the NNLSO Journal. Recipients are also asked to acknowledge NNLSO's support of their projects in all written and oral presentations.

Required Proposal Materials

Applicants are required to submit the following materials.

Cover Sheet: Include names of principal investigators, their institutions, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, title of the proposed project, total amount of the requested grant, proposed starting date and duration of the project, and authorizing signatures of the PI and appropriate institutional officer.

Summary: On a separate page, in no more than 200 words, a summary of the project.

Project Description: This statement must be limited to a maximum of 10 single-sided, double-spaced pages and must include a complete description of the following:

  1. The problem to be investigated.
  2. Review and discussion of relevant literature that demonstrates an understanding of previous research, if available, and how it relates to the topic to be addressed.
  3. Project methodology, including, where applicable, drafts of data collection instruments, listing of data bases to be used, a description of the variables to be examined, and statistical analysis techniques.
  4. Expected results and their relevance to legal education.
  5. Timeline for completion of the project.

Budget: Grants are intended to help recipients cover the direct costs of research projects, including temporary assistance, printing, postage, mainframe computer time and preparation of papers and reports. Grants are not intended to provide a salary or stipend for the grant recipient. Grants are not awarded for program start-up expenses for a particular law school, doctrinal studies, or projects that involve experimental activities.

Attachments: Draft questionnaires and other instruments, charts and tables, if applicable and available.

Statement of Capability: Submit a brief biographical statement that describes how your education and experience enable you to carry out the proposed project. Include professional resumé, list of previous research projects, if any, and professional association memberships and activities.

Proposal Submission

Submit the original packet and 5 complete copies to:

Lylene Pilkenton
Assistant Dean and Registrar
South Texas College of Law
1303 San Jacinto
Houston, Texas 77002-7000
ATTN: NNLSO Research Grant Program

Incomplete application packets will not be considered. Proposals are evaluated by the NNLSO Board at its fall and summer meetings. Award notification takes place following each meeting.

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