North Carolina Central University School of Law was established in 1939 as the first public law school for African Americans in the United States. Founded by Dr. James E. Shepard, the school was created to ensure that African Americans had access to legal education and a pathway to the bar. The school graduated its first class of four students in 1942, and has since produced over 4,000 graduates who have gone on to make significant contributions to their communities and society as a whole.
The school has been accredited by the American Bar Association since 1947, making it one of only three historically black law schools with such accreditation. In recent years, North Carolina Central University School of Law has seen an increase in enrollment and success among its students, with a record-breaking 98% bar passage rate for its 2018 graduates. In addition, NCCU School of Law is notable for being one of the most diverse ABA accredited law schools in the nation, with over 40% of its student body representing minority groups. The school also offers an extensive range of courses and programs designed to give students a comprehensive legal education that prepares them for success in their practice after graduation.
North Carolina Central University School of Law is located in the state of North Carolina. As one of the leading law programs, North Carolina Central University School of Law has a high average LSAT score of 142-148 when recruiting new students. As a return, the median starting salary for law graduates reaches $40,000 per year. See the following table for detailed admissions information and career profiles of North Carolina Central University School of Law.
Admissions: North Carolina Central University
North Carolina Central University School of Law is located in Durham, North Carolina. It is one of the oldest law schools in the country, having been founded in 1939. The law school has an enrollment of approximately 300 students and offers a variety of degree programs, including the Juris Doctor (JD). According to U.S. News & World Report, North Carolina Central University School of Law ranks among the top 100 law schools in the nation. The admissions rate for the school is relatively competitive at around 50%, with an average LSAT score of 155 and an average GPA of 3.3. Additionally, applicants are required to submit a personal statement and two letters of recommendation as part of their application. North Carolina Central University School of Law also has a strong commitment to diversity and equality; approximately 40% of its students are members of minority groups and 25% are international students from over 30 countries around the world. In addition to its academic programs, North Carolina Central University School of Law provides numerous extracurricular activities like moot court competitions, legal clinics, study abroad opportunities, and internships with leading organizations in the legal field.
Fall 2019 Admissions and Enrollment Statistics
Total number of full- and part-time applicants
2,089
Total number of full- and part-time acceptances
415
Overall acceptance rate
19.9%
Total number of full- and part-time first-year students enrolled
204
Number of full-time program applicants
2,013
Number of full-time program acceptances
353
Full-time acceptance rate
17.5%
Number of first-year full-time students enrolled
169
Number of part-time program applicants
806
Number of part-time program acceptances
127
Part-time acceptance rate
15.8%
Number of first-year part-time students enrolled
35
Fall 2019 GPA and LSAT Scores
25th-75th percentile GPA scores for all students
3.02-3.49
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for all students
143-150
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for full-time students
2.99-3.43
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for full-time students
142-148
25th-75th percentile undergraduate GPA for part-time students
3.16-3.67
25th-75th percentile LSAT scores for part-time students
148-155
Careers: North Carolina Central University
Bar Statistics (Winter and Summer 2018 administrations)
State where the greatest number of first-time test takers took the bar
NC
School’s bar passage rate for first-time test takers
80.5%
Statewide bar passage rate for first-time test takers
82.6%
Class of 2018 Graduates
Total graduates
144
Graduates employed at graduation
N/A
Graduates known to be employed nine months after graduation
80.5%
Starting Salaries of 2018 Graduates Employed Full-time
25th percentile private sector starting salary
N/A
Median private sector starting salary
N/A
75th percentile private sector starting salary
N/A
Percent in the private sector who reported salary information
N/A
Median public service starting salary
N/A
Areas of Legal Practice (Class of 2018)
Percent employed in academia
1.0%
Percent employed in business and industry
6.0%
Percent employed in government
22.0%
Percent employed in all judicial clerkships
6.0%
Percent employed in law firms
53.0%
Percent employed in public interest
7.0%
Percent employed in an unknown field
5.0%
Percent employed in a judicial clerkship by an Article III federal judge
0.0%
2018 Graduates Employment Location
Graduates employed in-state
68%
Graduates employed in foreign countries
0%
Number of states where graduates are employed
11
New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT)
0.0%
Middle Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA)
3.0%
East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI)
0.0%
West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD)
0.0%
South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV)
87.0%
East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN)
1.0%
West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX)
0.0%
Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA)
2.0%
Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY)
2.0%
Employment location unknown
5.0%
Career Services
(Data appear as originally submitted by this school)
Career services operations
The Career Services Office offers career planning, workshops, and placement services to all students and alumni. There is an on campus interview program with employers from law firms, corporations, state and federal government agencies, public interest organizations, judges, district attorneys, public defenders, and military judge advocate general’s corps.
Job Type
Bar admission required or anticipated (e.g., attorney and corporate counsel positions, law clerks, judicial clerks)
96.0%
J.D. preferred, law degree enhances position (e.g., corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI special agent)
2.0%
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)
