North Carolina Central University School of Law

Introduction

The mission of the North Carolina Central University School of Law is to produce competent and socially responsible members of the legal profession. NCCU School of Law accomplishes its mission by providing a challenging and broad-based educational program that stimulates intellectual inquiry of the highest order and that fosters in each student a deep sense of professional responsibility and personal integrity. Founded in 1939 to provide an opportunity for a legal education to African Americans, the School of Law now provides this opportunity to one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation. This environment of diversity better prepares our students to effect positive change in the broader society.

The School of Law has been accredited by the North Carolina State Bar Council and the ABA since 1950. Today, NCCU School of Law remains one of the most affordable and diverse law schools in the country. The School of Law offers two programs leading to the Juris Doctor degree: a full-time day program and the oldest ABA-accredited part-time evening program between Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, DC. The School of Law participates in an interinstitutional agreement with Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that permits students to enroll in electives at any member law school without an increase in tuition.

Facilities, Library, and Technology

The Albert L. Turner Law School building is a state-of-the-art facility that provides the law school community with an attractive, comfortable, and technology-friendly environment in which to work and study. The entire building is wireless. Students are provided a laptop and software for use throughout their matriculation. All classrooms are equipped with state-of-the-art multimedia resources, including smart boards, video and teleconferencing capabilities, and lectern computers with Internet access. The School of Law has several state-of-the-art group-study rooms, a moot courtroom, and the Great Hall for gatherings.

The law library, with more than 400,000 volumes and volume equivalents, provides the resources needed to support the Juris Doctor program, the JD/MLS and JD/MBA dual-degree programs, and the legal community. The law library is a selective North Carolina and United States government depository and has a special collection in civil rights law.

Special Academic Programs

Joint-Degree Options—There are two joint-degree programs available to Day Program students. The joint-degree JD/MBA Program allows students who are interested in a career in law and business to receive both degrees in four years. The joint-degree JD/MLS Program allows students who are interested in a career in law librarianship to simultaneously pursue both degrees. Students must apply and be accepted to each program separately.

Evening Program—The Evening Program is a four-year, year-round program that offers a unique opportunity for motivated professionals to pursue a legal education while maintaining their current daytime work commitments.

Academic Support Program—The Academic Support Program is available to assist students with the rigors of law school. Through the tutorial program, workshops, one-on-one guidance, and readily available resources, all students have access to information to enable them to become effective and successful law students.

Faculty Advising Program—Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who is available to discuss questions or problems related to the School of Law experience, career choices, and personal problems that might affect academic performance. They also advise students on taking appropriate classes and monitor their progress.

Clinical Program—The award-winning Clinical Program is highly rated. It operates year-round from a state-of-the-art model law office. The program offers as many as 13 innovative clinical experiences that provide law students with the opportunity to gain practical skills in the area of law that interests them the most. It is the most comprehensive program of any law school in the state. In-house clinical professors teach skills courses and supervise clinical students who represent real clients with real legal issues.

Invest in Success Program—This bar preparation program is a joint effort with the faculty and academic support staff. Various faculty members conduct weekly substantive law reviews during the summer. The Office of Academic Support conducts workshops on various topics and works with students to improve their essay exam writing skills. Special attention is given to those students who underperformed in NC Distinctions, the School of Law's bar-prep-for-credit course.

Institutes—The law school offers special programs and certificates through our Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Law Institute and the Dispute Resolution Institute.

Admission

Admission to the School of Law is competitive, with approximately 3,000 applicants competing for approximately 180 to 190 seats in the Day Program and 40 to 45 seats in the Evening Program. Students are admitted for the fall semester only on a rolling admission basis. Applicants are evaluated for admission based on a range of attributes, including academic achievement, performance on the LSAT, personal and professional experiences, intelligence and reasoning ability, individuality of thought and creativity, initiative and motivation, judgment and maturity, oral and written communication skills, integrity, leadership ability, and their potential contribution to the legal profession.

Because it is presumed that Evening Program students will have full-time employment, the Admissions Committee places greater weight on the quantifiable performance predictors for applicants to the Evening Program. Electronic applications for admission are accepted from October 1 through March 31 via our website at law.nccu.edu or the Law School Admission Council's website at LSAC.org.

Please note: Prospective applicants should view the School of Law website at law.nccu.edu for information regarding the School of Law.

Performance-Based Admission Program (PBAP)

As part of its commitment to the school's mission, North Carolina Central University School of Law offers prospective students opportunities to gain admission through its Performance-Based Admission Program (PBAP). The PBAP enables applicants whose numerical predictors fall below the presumptively admissible range to demonstrate their ability through a rigorous two-week, noncredit program in the spring. The Office of Admissions selects PBAP participants based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, a history of below-average standardized test scores followed by academic achievement, work experience, a significant time lapse between the undergraduate degree and law school application, and students who come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds. Students who successfully complete PBAP are then offered admission to NCCU's School of Law Day or Evening Program.

Student Organizations

The North Carolina Central Law Review is devoted to a broad range of legal topics submitted by legal scholars, attorneys, and law students. Students are selected for membership based upon GPA and performance in the annual Law Review Writing Competition. The School of Law also has the student-run Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Law Review. The Moot Court Board consists of upper-class students who have demonstrated exceptional ability in appellate skills. The Trial Advocacy Board consists of student teams who participate in mock jury trial competitions. The board has gained regional and national recognition for its excellence in trial advocacy. Other student organizations include the Black Law Students Association, Christian Legal Society, Environmental Law Society, Hispanic Law Student Association, Innocence Project, Native American Law Student Association, OutLaw Alliance, Public Interest Law Organization, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Women's Caucus, and various legal fraternities.

Career Services

The Office of Career Services offers a range of career planning and development services, including career counseling, résumé workshops, interview preparation, job postings, information sessions, reputation management, and panel discussions on legal careers. Graduates find employment in law firms, corporations, state and federal government agencies, public interest organizations, the judiciary, and the military. Consistent with our school's tradition, approximately 30 percent of our graduates entered into public service—more than half of them at the state level of service. Four percent of our graduates were accepted as judicial clerks. Of those in private practice (a little more than half of the class), most are employed in smaller law firms, while 12 percent of our graduates are employed in the business sector, primarily in either a technology-based company or a biotech/pharmaceutical company. Our graduates tend to stay in state (95 percent) and the remaining 5 percent are usually employed in the Southeast region, including Washington, DC.

Financial Aid

For information about financial aid, please visit our website at law.nccu.edu/admissions/financial-assistance.

Tuition and Expenses

NCCU School of Law provides one of the most cost-effective legal educations in the country. For information on tuition, fees, and expenses, please visit our website at law.nccu.edu/admissions/expenses or contact Student Accounting at 919.530.5071.

Housing

Limited on-campus housing is available for single law students. Write the Department of Residential Life, North Carolina Central University, PO Box 19382, Durham, NC 27707, or call 919.530.6227.

Applicant Profile

North Carolina Central University School of Law

This grid includes only applicants who earned 120–180 LSAT scores under standard administrations.

Apps = Number of Applicants
Adm = Number Admitted
Reflects 99% of the total applicant pool; highest LSAT data reported.