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Council on Legal Education Opportunity Inc

EIN 45-4462410 · Alexandria, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak30 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Only 40% of its spending went to programs.
  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

TO ENHANCE THE LEGAL PROFESSION BY SUPPORTING ASPIRING LAWYERS FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS IN ACCESSING A LEGAL EDUCATION AND ACHIEVING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS.

Income
$484,512
Spending
$801,359
Spent on programs
40%
Reserves
4.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 65%
Employees
6
Volunteers
13
Highest pay
$166,667, former ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 30 out of 100. Higher than 4% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 64% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    40% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 56 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 81% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 13 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $3,971 spent. PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS AND POSTGRADUATES - CONDUCT SEMINARS, WORKSHOPS AND ONLINE BLOGS TO HELP STUDENTS PREPARE FOR ENTRY INTO LAW SCHOOL. PUBLISH THE CLEO JD REPORT E-NEWSLETTER WHICH IS DESIGNED TO INFORM STUDENTS INTERESTED IN ATTENDING LAW SCHOOL ABOUT THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO ABA APPROVED LAW SCHOOLS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.PROGRAMS FOR LAW STUDENTS - PROVIDE ONLINE ACADEMIC SUPPORT FORUM FOR FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN A PRE-LAW PROGRAM TO RECEIVE ONGOING SUPPORT FROM LAW SCHOOL PROFESSORS. PROVIDES A VEHICLE FOR STUDENTS TO EXCHANGE IDEAS AND SUGGESTIONS AND RECEIVE WEEKLY WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT AND TIPS FOR SUCCESS. PROVIDE REGIONAL WORKSHOPS TO ADDRESS THE ACADEMIC CONCERNS OF FIRST AND SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENTS. PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAW STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNSHIPS, ATTEND SEMINARS, AND GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE FROM PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS.
  2. $316,873 spent. PROGRAMS FOR PRE-LAW, INCOMING LAW, AND CURRENT LAW STUDENTS:BAR PREP PROGRAM - IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BAR EXAMINERS (NCBE), CLEO OFFERS ITS LAW STUDENTS ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT AND BAR PREP WEBINARS, WEEKLY EMAILS WITH MBE QUESTIONS FOR 2LS AND 3LS, BAR MENTORING, MBE AND MPT ESSAY TUTORING FOR 3LS, DISCOUNTS WITH BAR PREP COURSES, AND BAR PREP STIPENDS.1L-PREP ATTITUDE IS ESSENTIAL (AIE) SEMINARS - THE AIE PROGRAM PROVIDES COLLEGE STUDENTS ADMITTED TO A LAW SCHOOL A HEAD START ON LAW SCHOOL AND LEARNING IN A SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. THE ONLINE SEMINAR EXPOSES STUDENTS TO THE BEST PRACTICES FOR: CASE BRIEFING, LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING, CONQUERING LAW SCHOOL EXAMS, AND MANAGING TIME AND FINANCES. ACHIEVING SUCCESS IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS (ASAP) SEMINARS - THE ASAP PROGRAM PREPARES TALENTED AND MOTIVATED STUDENTS TO GAIN ADMISSION TO AND SUCCEED IN LAW SCHOOL. THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON ASPECTS OF THE LAW SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS THAT ARE COMMONLY OVERLOOKED OR UNDERVALUED BY STUDENTS WHEN APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL. THESE SEMINARS ARE OPEN TO COLLEGE JUNIORS AND SENIORS, AS WELL AS POST-GRADUATES. THESE SEMINARS ARE HELD IN VARIOUS CITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES.PRE-LAW SUMMER INSTITUTE PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM IS A SIX-WEEK SIMULATION OF THE FIRST YEAR OF LAW SCHOOL BEGINNING WITH TWO WEEKS OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION FOLLOWED BY FOUR WEEKS ON THE CAMPUS OF A MAJOR LAW SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES EACH YEAR. PRE-LAW SCHOOL STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN A RIGOROUS AND DEMANDING FULL-TIME PROGRAM THAT HELPS DEMYSTIFY THE LAW SCHOOL EXPERIENCE TO BUILD SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-ASSURANCE FOR THE ATTENDEES. THE PROGRAM DEVELOPS ABSTRACT THINKING, ANALYSIS, AND SYNTHESIZING SKILLS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since March 2013.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.