Howard University School of Law

Howard University School of Law. Founded in 1869, it is one of the oldest Historically black colleges and universities in the United States and a premier institution for legal education. The school has played a central role in training generations of African-American lawyers and leaders who have shaped American jurisprudence and the Civil Rights Movement. Its mission emphasizes the provision of a legal education to students from underrepresented groups and a commitment to social justice.

History

The institution was established shortly after the American Civil War by a group of trustees from Howard University, with an initial class of six students. Its founding was part of the broader Reconstruction era effort to provide educational opportunities to newly freed African Americans. A pivotal early figure was John Mercer Langston, a pioneering African-American attorney and Congressman who served as its first dean and helped establish its national reputation. Throughout the 20th century, its faculty and students were integral to landmark legal battles, including those spearheaded by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund leading to decisions like Brown v. Board of Education. The school has consistently served as an intellectual incubator for strategies combating Jim Crow laws and advancing voting rights.

Academics

The school offers the Juris Doctor degree as well as a Master of Laws program focused on Human rights and International law. Its curriculum is notable for a required course in Professional Responsibility that integrates principles of social justice and a renowned clinical program. These clinical offerings, such as the Civil Rights Clinic and the Fair Housing Clinic, provide hands-on legal experience in areas like Criminal justice reform and Environmental justice. The school is also home to several influential publications, including the Howard Law Journal and the Human Rights and Globalization Law Review, which contribute to scholarly discourse. Specialized centers like the Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center conduct research and advocacy on issues of racial equity.

Notable alumni

Graduates have achieved prominence across the judiciary, government, and private practice, forming a powerful network often referred to as the "Black legal elite." The most famous alumnus is Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, who litigated Brown v. Board of Education and later served as Solicitor General of the United States. Other distinguished graduates include former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, and current Vice President Kamala Harris. In the judiciary, notable figures include Judge Spottswood W. Robinson III of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals and former Ghanaian Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.

Campus and facilities

Located in the Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., the school's main building is the modern, six-story Brickman Hall, which opened in 2011. This facility houses technologically advanced classrooms, trial courtrooms for Moot court competitions, and the extensive Moorland-Spingarn Research Center law library collection. The library serves as a major repository for materials on African-American legal history and civil rights. The campus provides students with proximity to key legal institutions like the U.S. Supreme Court, the Capitol, and numerous federal agencies, facilitating internships and networking.

Rankings and reputation

Consistently ranked as a top producer of African-American law graduates, it is widely recognized for its impact on diversifying the legal profession. It is perennially listed among the top law schools for diversity by U.S. News & World Report and is highly regarded for its clinical training programs. The school's reputation is built less on conventional rankings and more on its historic legacy and outsized influence in producing leaders for the American Bar Association, the Congressional Black Caucus, and the federal judiciary. Its graduates maintain a strong presence in major law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations nationwide.

Category:Howard University Category:Law schools in Washington, D.C. Category:Historically black universities and colleges in the United States