Summary: U.S. News and World Reports list the top 10 diverse law schools.
While a new study has found a lack of diversity in law firms, there are ten law schools that have a large population of African-American, Latino, and other under-represented students who can change those numbers in the future. U.S. News and World Reports has compiled a top ten list of the most diverse law school campuses in the country.
St. Mary’s University in Texas has a population of 52.9% minorities of its pool of 768 students. According to LawCrossing, it offers five dual degrees and publishes the journal, “The Scholar: St. Mary’s Law Review on Minority Issues.”
- University of the District of Columbia
Lawcrossing writes, “The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law received full accreditation from the American Bar Association on August 8, 2005.” This school has 303 enrolled students and 56.8% of them are minorities.
- Western State College of Law at Argosy University
Western State College of Law is a private, for profit school located in Fullerton, California. It has 338 enrolled students; 58.3% of them are diverse.
Southern University Law School’s population of 614 students is 61.1% diverse. Lawcrossing writes, “The law center has more than 2,500 graduates and is one of the nation’s most racially diverse law schools.”
Florida International University is ranked 103 on U.S. News’ Best Law Schools list, and its student body is 64.4% diverse. According to LawCrossing, “The law school’s curriculum focuses on preparing student for the general practice of law, community service, and international comparative law.”
5. North Carolina Central University
In 1939, the school was established in order to provide a law school for African-Americans, LawCrossing reports. The law school formally opened in 1940 with four students, and today, North Carolina Central University has an impressive 66.8% diversity rate amongst its 582 enrolled students.
According to LawCrossing, The University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law is the only law school in the state. The small school has 305 enrolled students, and 67.2% of them are diverse.
- St. Thomas University
This Catholic law school in Florida is 80.5 percent minority. It has 630 students enrolled. LawCrossing reports that it offers a masters in international human rights.
Texas Southern University has 508 students, and an 86.8% minority population. According to LawCrossing, the school “provides students with a curriculum based on a traditional core while also offering ample specialization opportunities.”
Howard University ranks 106 on U.S. News’ Top Law School List. The historically black college is comprised of 91.3% minorities; and LawCrossing writes, “They still provide one of most valued legal education in Political Rights today.”
- To learn more about the statistics of diversity in law firms, read Most Diverse Law Firms
Source: U.S. News and World Reports
Photo courtesy of University of Minnesota