Which HBCU Has the Best Law Program?
Which HBCU Has the Best Law Program?
There are six accredited Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law Schools in the United States. Howard University, the country’s first HBCU law school, has the best one and has a solid reputation for its curriculum and teaching.
About Howard University School of Law
Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private institution located in Washington D.C. The university has many graduate programs including a School of Law, which opened its doors in 1869. Howard became the first school in the country to graduate a female black lawyer, in 1872. At that time there was a need to help black Americans protect their newly established rights. Today, the law school has a diverse student body and faculty that focus on public service and human and civil rights. It holds accreditation from the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Association of American Law Schools (AALS). Total attendance at the school is around 400 students.
Why Howard University is The Best HBCU Law School
Howard University is the only historically black law school to be ranked in the third tier. U.S. News and World Report has the law school listed as #91 in the country in their annual law school rankings.
In 2020, 93.1% of Howard University law students passed the bar exam, which is 24th in the national ranking for bar passage rate from first-test takers. In New York State, 82.8% of students from the law school passed the bar last year, as compared to the state average of 76.6%---a difference of 4.2%. Howard University Law School ranks #38 for graduates employed at the time of graduation (61.2%).
The law program enables its students to get hands-on public service experience. With a reputation for being progressive, Howard University hosts an honors pro bono program that allows students to serve low-socioeconomic citizens in exchange for course credit. Because of this HBCU’s Washington D.C. location, students have access to internships, externships, and apprenticeships. High post-graduation employment rates testify to the quality of education of this university.
