Robust Exchange of Ideas and the Presence of the African-American Voice in the Law School Environment: A Review of Literature

People of color represent about 30% of the United States population, but less than 10% of lawyers. African-Americans represent approximately 13% of the United States population, but only 6.8% of enrolled law students.2 The rate of admission of African-Americans to law schools has experienced a continual decline, diminishing the racial diversity of the law student body and the legal profession. The primary purpose of this paper is to explore the research related to the enrollment of African-American students in law school, the effects of low enrollment on law school culture, and the evidence of successful initiatives that have increased the number of African-Americans admitted to law school.