African Americans represent a mere 7.9% of all law school students in the United States, well below the percentage of African Americans in the general population, which hovers near 12%. While many law school campuses are becoming more multicultural, this trend is not as strong in the legal profession, which has long faced criticism for its lack of diversity. The ABA requires law schools to demonstrate a commitment to diversity in both their student bodies and their faculty.
Deciding where to go to law school is one of the biggest decisions you can make. Lawyers of Color (LOC), an organization dedicated to supporting African American law students, is focused on providing ample information to prospective African American law students and increasing their presence in law schools.
For nearly a decade, LOC has ranked the “best” law schools for prospective African American students. However, according to Yolanda Young, the organization’s CEO, LOC now realizes that “such rankings undermine equity in the legal profession.” As a result, LOC will no longer rank law schools. Instead, the organization will present the American Bar Association (ABA) 509 filing data in a way that makes it easy to compare to other law schools, allowing students to make informed choices based on their personal needs and desires.
Young shared, “We are marking this as the end of the rankings era. Of course, “rankings” have their place, but it is alongside transparency and equity. Any data that is objective and verifiable is appropriate to report. Its significance should be left to the students to decide.”
LOC wants to avoid the unfair and highly subjective process of using an opaque methodology to create a one-size fits all “ranking.” Young stated, “We don’t believe we are the ones to decide what should be the MOST important factors for any student.” Instead, LOC has taken data that is publicly available to everyone and converted the raw data into percentages to allow for accurate comparisons.
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Young added, “rankings have rewarded the wealthiest law schools that use admissions criteria that reward wealthier law school candidates.” Young is joined by many others across the nation calling for the end to college rankings of all types.
While this publication centers Black students, the information presented is of value to all prospective law students as it presents law school data in a comprehensive, easy to understand manner.
Any data that is objective and verifiable is appropriate to report. Its significance should be left to the students to decide. Never again will we subject law schools to the unfair and highly subjective process of using an opaque formula or methodology to create a one-size fits all “ranking.” We don’t believe we are the ones to decide what should be the MOST important factors for any student.
Despite the fact that we’re now living in a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion are looked upon as dirty words, each and every day, people of color continue to make great strides toward progress within the government and the legal profession in our country. In recent years, we’ve seen history take place, first with Kamala Harris, who became the first woman and first woman of color to serve as Vice President, and later with Ketanji Brown Jackson, who became the first Black woman to become a Supreme Court justice.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Learning how to get it right | Asif Sadiq | TEDxCroydon
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law Schools
Historically Black colleges and universities were established in response to the systematic exclusion of African Americans from predominantly White institutions (PWIs) during the era of segregation. HBCU law schools are academic institutions that offer legal education and training with a unique focus on the African-American experience and social justice. These law schools are an integral part of the broader network of HBCUs, which have played a crucial role in providing higher education for African-Americans for over a century.
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According to John Pierre, Chancellor of the Southern University Law Center, HBCU law schools produce around 25% of the law degrees earned by Black students in the United States, even though HBCUs only represent 3% of law schools across the nation.
There are over 100 HBCUs. Here’s essential information about the six HBCU law school programs:
- Howard University School of Law
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Type: Full-time
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $71,710
- Law degree programs: JD, JD/MBA, Master of Law (LL.M.)
- 2022 median undergraduate GPA: 3.49
- 2022 median LSAT score: 154
- 2022 acceptance rate: 31.16%
- Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University
- Location: Houston, Texas
- Type: Full-time
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $45,072 (Texas residents); $52,295 (non-residents)
- Law degree programs: JD, Master of Law (LL.M.)
- 2022 median undergraduate GPA: 3.12
- 2022 median LSAT score: 151
- 2022 acceptance rate: 35%
- Florida A&M University College of Law
- Location: Orlando, Florida
- Type: Part-time and full-time options available
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $31,180-$42,440 (Florida residents, off-campus); $50,440-$61,700 (non-residents, off-campus)
- Law degree programs: JD
- 2023 average undergraduate GPA: 3.52
- 2023 median LSAT score: 151
- 2022 acceptance rate: 35.48%
- Southern University Law Center
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Type: Part-time and full-time options available
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $40,378-$45,682 (Louisiana residents); $52,978-$59,282 (non-residents)
- Law degree programs: JD, JD/MPA, JD/MBA
- 2022 median undergraduate GPA: 3.13
- 2022 median LSAT score: 146
- 2022 acceptance rate: 59.71%
- North Carolina Central University School of Law
- Location: Durham, North Carolina
- Type: Part-time and full-time options available
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $44,572 (North Carolina residents); $67,243 (non-residents)
- Law degree programs: JD, JD/MBA, JD/MLS/MIS, JD/MPA, JD/MPP
- 2022 median undergraduate GPA: 3.32
- 2022 median LSAT score: 148
- 2022 acceptance rate: 35.73%
- The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law
- Location: Washington, D.C.
- Type: Part-time and full-time options available
- Estimated annual cost of attendance: $47,111 (D.C. residents); $53,829 (D.C. non-residents)
- Law degree programs: JD
It's essential to approach the idea of "top" HBCU law schools with a nuanced perspective. While rankings can provide some guidance, they don't tell the whole story. Instead, they offer a snapshot of a school's performance based on various factors, which may not align perfectly with your personal goals and values.
That said, among HBCUs, Howard University School of Law often emerges as the most well-respected and renowned. With its rich history, commitment to civil rights, and influential alumni, Howard has established itself as a leading institution for legal education.
North Carolina Central University School of Law is another institution frequently recognized for its emphasis on public interest law, civil rights, and community service.
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However, it's crucial to consider that what makes a law school "top" can vary greatly depending on your aspirations and career objectives. No matter where you choose to apply for law school, it's essential to weigh the pros and cons carefully.
Here, we discuss some potential pros and cons of attending an HBCU law school.
The Pros
- Diverse and inclusive environment. HBCUs offer a unique and inclusive environment where students from diverse backgrounds come together. This diversity can enrich your legal education by exposing you to various perspectives and cultivating a strong sense of community.
- Commitment to social justice. HBCU law schools have a historical and ongoing commitment to social justice and civil rights. Their curricula often reflect this dedication, providing a strong foundation for those interested in pursuing careers in public interest law, civil rights, and related fields.
- Focused approach to diverse perspectives. HBCU law schools are well-known for their emphasis on issues related to racial justice and inequality. This focused approach can be particularly valuable if you have a strong interest in these areas and want to make a difference through your legal practice.
- Contribution to diversity. By attending an HBCU law school, you contribute to the ongoing effort to diversify the legal profession, which is crucial for addressing systemic disparities and promoting equity.
The Cons
- Smaller alumni networks. Compared to larger institutions, HBCU law schools may have smaller alumni networks, which can affect post-graduation job placement and professional connections.
- Perceptions and biases. Some employers may be less familiar with the prestige and quality of education offered by HBCU law programs, potentially impacting the recognition of your qualifications.
- Limited specialized programs. If you're interested in a highly specialized field of law, some HBCU law schools may not offer as broad a range of courses or resources compared to larger institutions.
- Financial considerations.
When deciding whether to attend an HBCU law school, consider the advantages and disadvantages we've discussed. Ultimately, the right choice for you will align with your career goals, personal values, and priorities.
Research indicates that white men and women continue to be overrepresented in the legal profession.
There are law schools, however, that enroll a more diverse student body than average. For instance, the percentage of minority students across the 26 most racially and ethnically diverse ranked law schools averages 66%.
In fall 2023, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law matriculated all Hispanic students, the only institution to do this. The law school is part of a university that is considered a Hispanic-serving institution, which is a not-for-profit college or university where Hispanic students make up at least 25% of the full-time-equivalent undergraduate student body.
Of the 26 schools on this list, the University of Hawaii-Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law had the highest proportion of students who identified as Asian - 25.4% - and the highest proportion who identified as multiracial, 35%. At this law school Pacific Islander students represented 1.7% of the population, the highest percentage among the 26 law schools, followed by Golden Gate University School of Law in California with 1% enrollment.
Native American students were also underrepresented across these institutions.
California is home to the most law schools on the top-26 list - eight - followed by Florida with five.
Among other law schools, Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School had the most African American law schools (40%).
Three HBCUs are among the ten least expensive law schools, including the University of the District of Columbia, North Carolina Central University, and Florida A&M University.
Among non-HBCU law schools, the University of Puerto Rico, the University of South Dakota, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Toledo have the lowest tuition.
With regard to grants & scholarships, Liberty University, The Pennsylvania State University, Florida A&M University, Campbell University, and the University of St. Thomas (MN) are the most generous with 10o% of their students receiving some type of financial support.
In terms of employment, The University of Detroit Mercy law school produces the most graduates who secure jobs at law firms with less than 25o people and Cornell University tops the list of law school graduates who secure jobs at law firms with more than 250 people.
With regard to the production of graduates who land jobs in government or the public sector, the City University of New York law school excels. And the University of Chicago law school produces the most graduates who secure federal and state clerkships.
While most of the law school data was compiled from the ABA 509 required filings, Lawyers of Color added information related to major legal markets to the report.
The law is a powerful tool, and we hope that students of color who want change will wield it wisely.
