HBCU Law School

[Livvylynn]

What has been your experience at a HBCU Law School?

[Love_Spell_6]

There are only 4...and out of those 4...I can only speak for NCCU, and in my opinion, its a terrible school. They grade on a C curve (they curve all grades to a C which makes you very uncompetitive with your NC counterparts at Chapel Hill and Duke). Not only do they curve all your grades to a C (which is a 2.0 in the gpa calculation) if you get less than a 2.0, they kick you out. They normally lose about 25% of their 1st year class each year.

Willie Gary who is the highest paid black attorney does NOT donate money to the school...he gives millions to his undergrad Shaw..but not Central.

And although its a HBCU..they are letting in more and more non Af Am students...

I could go on and on about that hell hole..but I wouldn't recommend my worst enemy go to that law school.

The info I have is as of 2002...so if anything has changed..good for them..

[Illest Zeta on the Planet]

Lovespell...I take it you attended? When did you graduate?

I am currently a prisoner there...much of what you have said is true. Except this year, about 25 students were other or white out of 145. They slowed down on that one.

[Legal Diva]

I went to Howard and I loved it, as did most of my friends and classmates. As for the issues that were raised by others--abt 25% of the student body is "white or other", I'm not sure what the curve is because after 1st yr most profs are not bound by it, and mad employers came on campus for OCI including some of the biggest firms and most sought after organizations in the country. Feel free to email me if you want more specific information.

[Exquisite5]

I go to Howard Law now and I would say it is a 7.5 on a scale of 1 to 10.

The administration needs desperate help, there is a MAJOR lack of parking (first years don't even get to TRY to get a spot) and your scholarships don't increase with tuition increases. Also, it takes two weeks to get a transcript, whereas at my undergrad you could just walk in, pay and get one.

Now, with that said- the educational experience is pretty good. I liked my first year classes and the second year is pretty okay so far. If you do well you will have MAD INTERVIEWS (EVERYONE recruits at Howard), but that can be problematic because Howard, unlike almost any other law school, has an attendance policy. If you miss 25% of the classes for a particular course you are either dropped from it, if its before the withdraw deadline, or if its after you get an F. That is horrible when you consider that call-back interviews occur during the school day/work week. It basically punishes those at the top of their class and have a lot of interviews.

So, there is no reason not to go to Howard, just know what you are getting in to. I like my school and I would advise others to go there, but I want everyone to know what they are getting in to (I had no idea I couldn't even try to get a parking pass). You learn in a different way at Howard. You learn about policy and the ramifications of the law in the Black community- you just have to wade through a lot of bull crap to get to the great education part.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

I go to a white law school. But I wanted to let Exquisite know that the parking situation is not HBCU specific. I am a 1L and I have to pay daily to park at the Civic Center across the street from the law school. Not to mention we arent even allowed to do the daily parking if they are having a special event. Sucks to be a 1L.

[Exquisite5]

IMHO- your school at least is aware that you have a parking option. My school has made no effort to provide parking for the 1L's and the 2 and 3Ls who don't have parking passes.

They must park on the street. And in DC to park on the street in your neighborhood you must pay $340 dolllars a year. Also, if its not your neighborhood, you can't even do that and must move your car out of that specific neighborhood (its zoned) every two hours- or get a $30 dollar ticket. (And most law students can't afford to live near the school- its tres expensive.)

Can you imagine running in and out of class every two hours to move your car?

Also my real annoyance with Howard's parking situation is that our parking lot was built TWO years ago. They should have built a big enough lot...period. The school did not double in size in two years.

[MeezDiscreet]

hey exquisite, i have a line sister who is a 2L at howard law.

[SKEEphistAKAte]

Exquisite- yeah, that sounds pretty bad. I guess I can't complain then. NTIM but I know this 1L at Howard named Erin.

[Phasad1913]

I am a 1L at Thurgood Marshall School of Law, Texas Southern U. and I like it. I went to a really competitive pred. white undergrad institution and I wanted the change. I think the differences so far in the types of school have been positive. Of course, there are the few irritations that I have had to endure, such as the financial aid officers being "less than helpful" and a few other administrative snaffoos that I don't recall having to deal with in undergrad, nevertheless, I am glad I made the choice to go here.

I absolutely LOVE all of my professors. Like Howard, I would presume, (and other HBCU law school, I just don't have much info on them) we have the best of the best of black legal scholars who not only have a lot to teach you from the techincal standpoint, but have a wealth of historical information to share as well. For example, one of the 1L professors, not my prof though, litigated alongside Thurgood Marshall for the young man who integrated Ole Miss ( I believe that was the school, forgive my misinformation)Anyway, there are quite a few well-known professors at my school and it is really exciting to be their student.

Parking is the same here, but most of us have figured out a few tricks to getting around it, like getting to campus at the crack of dawn!

So, even with it's drawbacks, the good definitely outweighs the bad...not to mention the FINEST intelligent black men I get to see and work with everyday!!

[NuQueen04]

Originally posted by Livvylynn
What has been your experience at a HBCU Law School?

Thanks for asking this question. I have been searching the internet and various law school discussion boards trying to obtain information on Howard Law from a student perspective.


Information is power. Especially since I am still trying to decide which law schools to apply. For those that are currently attending or recent graduates, what factors did you consider when selecting a law school? I am trying to make sure that I have all my bases covered. Thanks in advance for the information.

[blueGBI]

This is a good topic because right now, I'm attending a PWI but I've been looking into HBCUs, primarily NCCU and Howard for law school. I'm currently leaning towards Howard but I have 2 more semesters to decide.

[MeezDiscreet]

i tried to respond to your PM but your box is full. but, yes, that's her!!!!

[nikki1920]

My best friend went to NCCU Law and had pretty much the opposite experience. Other than your typical HBCU experience, she really liked lawschool..

[Illest Zeta on the Planet]

NCCU's policies are a bit off the wall. The 2.0 curve hurts not only the students who get kicked out, but those who remain. Recruiters don't come to our school like Howard because we don't have really have a reputation, as we are touted as the school of second chance.

The funny part is, the education that NCCU provides is first-rate - put me in a room with some folks from Duke and Carolina and I PROMISE they don't know half the mess they teach us....isn't that ironic?

The thing that made me mad was when I got to school last year, we were told oh by the way, we're moving after the fall semester. They have a remodeling project that is supposed to last until next year. HOwever, they failed to inform the incoming students that it was happening, and we were all surprised. Now, we spend our time downtown at the NC Mutual builing in about 1/3 of the space.

Central in state is $4K. You can't beat that. I would say, if you come here be prepared to work and don't be afraid to ask questions. I think most students here get sidetracked because they don't work or they try to use the same work ethic they used in college...that just doesn't work.