Students of Color.

School of Law earns recognition as a top law school for black law students

The University at Buffalo School of Law is proud to be named once again as a “Best Regional Law School for Black Law Students” by the Black Student's Guide to Law Schools & Firms (third edition).

The Guide is published by Lawyers of Color, a non-profit organization devoted to diversity in the legal profession and advancing democracy and equality in marginalized communities.

“Because studies have shown African Americans have different legal career trajectories than their peers, it is imperative they be equipped with information and tools that can help them succeed. We believe the law schools highlighted in the Guide ensure black students have a great career launch,” says Yolanda Young, president and executive director of Lawyers of Color.

Law schools were evaluated based on 10 criteria that include the school’s bar passage rate, the number of black faculty, and the percentage of jobs law students received that required a J.D. In the regional categories, greater weight was given to the percentage of J.D. degrees a law school awarded to black law graduates, and the amount of residency tuition, which could not exceed $35,000.

“We are honored to be recognized as one of the top five law schools in the Eastern region,” says Tolulope Odunsi, assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at UB School of Law.  “This is particularly important in light of the most recent data from the American Bar Association stating that only 5% of licensed attorneys in the United States are black. For UB School of Law, it is not enough for us to simply acknowledge the importance of black lawyers in the legal profession. We must create an environment where black students are empowered to thrive in their legal careers.”