Howard University School of Law

Howard University School of Law is a American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Washington, D.C., and is one of the oldest Historically black colleges and universities in the United States. The law school is part of Howard University, a private Historically black colleges and universities founded by Congress in 1867, with the support of Freedmen's Bureau, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, and American Missionary Association. The law school has a long history of producing distinguished African American lawyers, including Thurgood Marshall, who argued the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education before the Supreme Court of the United States, and L. Douglas Wilder, the first African American to be elected Governor of Virginia. The law school has also been associated with notable figures such as Charles Hamilton Houston, who played a significant role in the development of Civil Rights Movement in the United States, and Pauli Murray, a prominent civil rights activist and lawyer.

History

The law school was founded in 1869, with the goal of providing legal education to African American students, who were largely excluded from other law schools in the United States at the time. The law school's early years were marked by significant challenges, including limited resources and a lack of recognition from the American Bar Association. However, under the leadership of John Mercer Langston, the law school was able to establish itself as a reputable institution, and its graduates went on to become prominent figures in the African American community, including Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Ida B. Wells. The law school has also been associated with notable events, such as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech, and the Selma to Montgomery marches, which were led by Southern Christian Leadership Conference and Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The law school's history is also closely tied to the history of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Congress of Racial Equality, and American Civil Liberties Union.

Academics

The law school offers a range of academic programs, including a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, and a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree. The law school's curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in law, with a focus on Constitutional law, Contract law, Tort law, and Property law. The law school is also home to several research centers and institutes, including the Center for Civil Rights, the Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice, and the Center for International Comparative Law. The law school has partnerships with other institutions, such as Georgetown University Law Center, University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, and American University Washington College of Law, and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools and the American Association of Law Libraries. The law school's faculty includes prominent scholars, such as Derrick Bell, Lani Guinier, and Mari Matsuda, who have made significant contributions to the fields of Critical race theory, Feminist legal theory, and Latino legal theory.

Campus and facilities

The law school is located on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C., and is situated near several other institutions, including Gallaudet University, University of the District of Columbia, and Catholic University of America. The law school's facilities include a state-of-the-art library, a moot court room, and a range of classrooms and offices. The law school is also home to several student organizations, including the Howard University School of Law Student Bar Association, the Black Law Students Association, and the National Lawyers Guild. The law school's campus is close to several notable landmarks, including the United States Capitol, the Supreme Court of the United States, and the National Mall, and is accessible by public transportation, including the Washington Metro.

Notable alumni and faculty

The law school has a long list of distinguished alumni, including Thurgood Marshall, L. Douglas Wilder, Shirley Chisholm, and David Dinkins. The law school's faculty has also included prominent scholars, such as Charles Hamilton Houston, Spottswood Robinson, and Pauli Murray. Other notable alumni include Robert M. Bell, the former Chief Judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, and Eric Holder, the former United States Attorney General. The law school has also been associated with notable figures, such as Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, and Stokely Carmichael, who have played significant roles in the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. The law school's alumni have gone on to become prominent figures in a range of fields, including law, politics, and social justice, and have worked for organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, American Civil Liberties Union, and Southern Poverty Law Center.

Rankings and reputation

The law school is ranked among the top law schools in the United States by several publications, including U.S. News & World Report and PreLaw Magazine. The law school is also recognized for its strong programs in Intellectual property law, International law, and Clinical law. The law school has a strong reputation for producing graduates who are committed to public service and social justice, and its alumni have gone on to work for a range of organizations, including the United States Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United Nations. The law school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools and the American Association of Law Libraries. The law school has also been recognized for its diversity and inclusion efforts, and has been ranked as one of the most diverse law schools in the United States by National Jurist and Law School Admission Council.