Howard University School of Law was established in 1869, which makes it the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. and one of the oldest law schools in the nation. The school was founded by a group of African-American lawyers and businessmen who wanted to create a legal education for African-Americans that was equal to that of white students. The founders chose Howard University as the home for this new law school due to its strong commitment to civil rights and social justice.
The first classes at Howard University School of Law began in 1869 with just twelve students, all of whom were African-American men. They were taught by two professors: John Mercer Langston and William Henry Howell. Langston was an abolitionist who had been part of the Underground Railroad as well as a former Congressman from Ohio; Howell was a lawyer and Harvard graduate who had served as a Union soldier during the Civil War. These two professors laid the foundation for what would become one of America’s most prestigious law schools.
At its inception, Howard Law School focused on providing its students with an education that emphasized civil rights and social justice, something that would remain true throughout its history. In 1870, it became one of only three schools in the nation to offer degrees specifically for African-Americans, making it a leader in legal education for black students at the time. Throughout its history, Howard Law has produced many notable alumni including Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall who graduated from Howard Law in 1933; he would go on to become one of America’s most influential advocates for civil rights during his long tenure on the Supreme Court.
Howard University School of Law is located in Washington DC. As one of the leading law programs, Howard University School of Law has a high average LSAT score of 150-156 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $160,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of Howard University School of Law.
Admissions: Howard University
Howard University School of Law is a top-tier law school located in the Washington D.C. metro area. It has been consistently ranked as one of the best law schools in the nation and is well-regarded for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. According to U.S. News & World Report, Howard Law boasts a median LSAT score of 155, with an average GPA of 3.6. The school also accepts students from a variety of backgrounds, including those who are first-generation college students and those who have come from underrepresented communities. The student body is comprised of approximately 500 students, with more than half being women and almost one-third identifying as African American or Hispanic/Latino/a/x. Howard Law also has a robust international student population, representing over 30 countries around the world. Additionally, the school has an impressive bar passage rate of 91% for first-time takers and 98% overall—one of the highest in the nation!
In addition to academic excellence, Howard Law also offers its students an array of extracurricular activities and opportunities for experiential learning that can help shape their legal education and career paths after graduation. From moot court competitions to pro bono projects to externships with local government offices or non-profits, Howard Law offers something for everyone looking to pursue a legal career in any field imaginable! Furthermore, through its public service initiatives such as its Summer Public Interest Fellowship Program (SPIFP), Howard Law provides financial support for students interested in engaging in public interest work during their summers off from school—making it possible for them to gain invaluable experience while making a difference in their communities at large!
Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants
2,132
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances
443
Overall acceptance rate
20.8%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled
160
Number of full-time program applicants
2,132
Number of full-time program acceptances
443
Full-time acceptance rate
20.8%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled
160
Number of part-time program applicants
N/A
Number of part-time program acceptances
N/A
Part-time acceptance rate
N/A
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled
N/A
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students
2.92-3.51
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students
150-156
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students
2.92-3.51
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students
150-156
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students
N/A
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students
N/A
Careers: Howard University
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar
MD
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers
64.1%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers
85.4%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates
152
Graduates employed at graduation
72.4%
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation
85.5%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary
$105,000
Median private sector starting salary
$160,000
75th percentile private sector starting salary
$160,000
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information
60%
Median public service starting salary
$52,000
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia
0.0%
Percent employed in business and industry
10.0%
Percent employed in government
16.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships
16.0%
Percent employed in law firms
50.0%
Percent employed in public interest
3.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field
5.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge
3.2%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state
36%
Graduates employed in foreign countries
0%
Number of states where graduates are employed
21
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
1.7%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)
22.5%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
4.2%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
1.7%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)
60.7%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)
0.8%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)
1.7%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)
5.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)
1.7%
Employment location unknown
0.0%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations
Career Services provides comprehensive placement services with seminars and workshops to assist students with assessing their career goals, preparing for and securing employment. An on-campus recruitment program is held with over 300 representatives from law firms, corporations, and government agencies. A special program with over 50 public interest/service recruiters is conducted every February.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks)
80.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent)
8.0%
Professional/other (jobs that require professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither preferred nor particularly applicable; e.g., accountant, teacher, business manager, nurse)
2.0%
Nonprofessional/other (job that does not require any professional skills or training or is taken on a temporary basis and not viewed as part of a career path)
