The legal profession, known historically for its lack of diversity, is making strides to address this long-standing issue. Recent reports show that more incoming law students and faculty identify as people of color than ever before, despite the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action in higher education. This has been largely attributed to the diligent efforts of law schools across the nation to foster and promote racial and ethnic diversity among their students and faculty.
National Jurist’s preLaw magazine continues to be instrumental in this endeavour by offering an annual ranking of the Best Law Schools for Diversity. According to their recent update, the top law schools supporting various major minority categories – African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans – were identified based on the percentage of minority students, minority professors, and the diversity services offered. These elements respectively counted for 50%, 25%, and 25% of the schools’ total grades.
The top law schools for each category are as follows:
Black Students:
- Howard University
- North Carolina Central University
- Southern University Law Center
- Texas Southern University
- Florida A&M University
Asian Students:
- UC Irvine
- CUNY School of Law
- McGeorge School of Law
- USC Gould
- UC Davis
Hispanic Students:
- Texas Southern University
- CUNY School of Law
- University of New Mexico
- California Western School of Law
- McGeorge School of Law
Native American Students:
- University of Arizona
- North Carolina Central University
- University of New Mexico
- University of Tulsa
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law
Congratulations to these law schools for their dedication to diversity, which not only enriches the educational experience of their students but also ensures that the future legal profession accurately represents the diverse communities it serves.
See the comprehensive ranking here, courtesy of preLaw magazine.