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By Rachel Berry

Unite — �������ý’s CRM platform that helps in the review and processing of law school applications, communication with applicants, and more — looks very different today than it did when it debuted. And that evolution has helped it become a valued tool in the legal education landscape.  

This fall, Unite celebrates its fifth anniversary. And while it encountered some difficulties in its early years, �������ý’s Unite team, in conjunction with law school partners, has made Unite a platform that enhances the work of admission offices.

Why Unite?  

Law schools’ previous CRM platform, ACES², was created in the early 2000s. As technology and law school admission evolved, ACES² was constantly being updated to adjust to schools’ needs.

In the mid-2010s, an �������ý survey of schools about the platform revealed usability and intuitiveness were lacking. As a result of that process, Unite, a tool designed specifically for use in law school admissions, was created to continue to meet schools’ needs and improve on ACES² with a product that was more user-friendly.

In the old CRM platform, admission professionals spent time navigating between different sections to complete a task. On Unite, the goal was to simplify processes and consolidate tasks, enabling admission professionals to find everything related to reviewing applications in one place — or find everything related to working with prospects, such as assigning a fee waiver or sending an email, grouped together.  

The Beginnings of Unite

The first few schools converted to Unite in 2020, and gradually, more schools followed. But there were challenges. �������ý’s team designed and managed much of the platform, but some functions, such as marketing capabilities, were outsourced to a third-party vendor. Schools faced numerous issues with these functions, such as emails to candidates not sending, sending at the wrong time, or even sending to the wrong people.  

“Schools use Unite for really mission-critical work,” said John Miller, vice president for school solutions at �������ý. “They literally run their business, their schools, using Unite. So, failure at this point was not an option, and the product was failing schools, particularly in how they communicate.”

�������ý took the complaints and challenges seriously, given how precise the application process is for schools. For example, an email being sent a few hours later than intended can be a serious problem, both for schools and for applicants.  

�������ý hosted training sessions, which continue to this day, to help schools get accustomed to the platform and to listen to ideas and concerns. The Unite team worked to fix issues schools were having with the platform, as well as add new capabilities to address the needs of member schools.  

“We’re a very dedicated, school-focused group,” said Steve Brescia, senior manager of technical program management for Unite services. “We really try to start with ‘Yes’ when something gets asked of us.”

“I think everybody has the willingness and is focused on wanting to help the schools be successful,” he added. “We’re focused on them and trying to make their lives better, easier, more productive.”

Unite Today

To resolve the technical glitches, �������ý began developing its own marketing functionality for the Unite platform. This fixed the issues schools were having, and today, all Unite’s functions are controlled by the �������ý team.  

Now, Unite is achieving its goal of becoming a user-friendly, intuitive platform. As of earlier this year, all �������ý member law schools in the U.S. have transitioned to the platform; the schools to be converted to Unite are law schools in Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as non-member schools, which all are expected to join the platform by summer 2026.

“We really have created a system that meets law schools’ needs for their admission process,” said JoAnn Sabol, executive director of Unite product development.

�������ý’s Unite team is still working to add new features to enhance Unite and is continually making improvements and adjustments as necessary.  

“We’re constantly adapting it as [the schools] adapt,” said Michelle Heck, director of Unite services. “Most other databases aren't going to take the input and continue to do all of the things that we do to make sure that their customers have what they need.”  

One example came after the June 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the use of race in admissions. A workgroup of school representatives was formed to advise on the process, and the Unite team quickly made adjustments to the platform to comply with the court’s ruling.  

What’s Next?  

In the coming months, schools can look forward to ongoing enhancements to marketing and communications functionality, expanded form features, enhanced analytics for Events, Forms, Campaigns, and much more.  

In addition to a continued investment in Unite’s core functions, �������ý will begin providing optional features. Schools will have the ability to purchase premium capabilities related to bar passage data, advanced automation features, and more.  

�������ý will also continue offering industry-leading support and training, including new fee-based training for even more specialized knowledge.  

Through all of the enhancements to Unite, �������ý continues to innovate within the law school admission space and to work with admission professionals to help make their jobs easier.  

“When Unite succeeds, when our schools succeed, we all succeed,” Miller said.