This study was a grounded theory investigation of the LatinoJustice PRLDEF LawBound participants. The research was conducted using the grounded theory method developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) and Glaser (1978, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005) to discover an explanatory theory directly from the data. The discovery of the explanatory theory of readying one's self came from the data regarding the experience of the LawBound student participants during their intensive, one-week pre-law preparatory course. The theory was derived from interviews in order to understand, explain, and predict the latent patterns of social behavior in the action scene to determine what was happening. The use of the grounded theory methodology allowed the discovery of the theory of readying one's self that fits, works, is relevant, and modifiable (Glaser, 1978). The use of the grounded theory methodology required the researcher to enter the field with as few preconceptions as possible. The use of the grounded theory methodology did not allow the research to force the data to fit the needs of the researcher but allowed the core variable to emerge on its own (Glaser, 2005). The researcher entered the field with a general area of interest in mind, setting aside any preconceptions and prior experience. The substantive theory of readying oneself is a basic social process of the behavioral patterns of people who were preparing for law school, with the support of others who had no initial template to follow. Readying one's self is a basic social process used to show the behavioral patterns of how the participants interacted with people within their community to navigate through the process. It shared their views and concerns of what they had learned through the process. Four conditions outlined the process of readying one's self: acquiring information, empowering self, preparatory measures, and accomplishment. Acquiring information examined how an individual readying one's self is conceptually preparing himself or herself for information he or she found useful for success. Empowering self showed how people break free of a pattern of behavior that may be detrimental to their success. Preparatory measures are essential to the condition of readying one's self, since it allows a person the opportunity to acknowledge within one's self that preparation comes from within. Accomplishment showed a person that learning to complete a task gave him or her a rewarding and exhilarating experience. The stages of readying one's self are (a) finding the way through awareness, (b) taking the next step, and (c) taking the helm. Finding the way through awareness has four theoretical subcategories: process, apprehension, intimidation, and barriers. Finding the way showed an individual from a diverse background that attending law school is possible and it is just not an irrational idea. Furthermore, a student can see that the process may be intimidating, but accomplishable, and that others have shared the same lived experience and have been admitted to law school. The second stage of readying one's self is taking the next step. This stage has three subcategories: el acceso, la familia, and educacion, (access, family support, and education). These subcategories are the drive behind taking the next step. At this stage, an individual finds the internal drive that comes from knowing that he or she can do this work. This internal drive uses planning, scheduling, and follow-up with what needs to be done. The third stage of readying one's self is taking the helm. Taking the helm of readying one's self has three categories: associates, network, and passion for the law. Taking the helm allows a person to receive information from people who have previously gone through the process. It involves learning how to receive advice as one academically orients oneself, while learning how to use one's connections through networking to open doors. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]