Certificate in Civil Rights and Constitutional Law

The goal of the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law concentration is to increase the number of legal advocates in the field of civil rights and constitutional law. This goal is consistent with the Law School’s historical mission of preparing attorneys to represent underserved and under-represented segments of our community. 

Vestiges of racial discrimination as well as current racially-based discriminatory practices remain pervasive in all facets of our community, including education, housing, environmental justice, criminal justice, employment and economic advancement.  It is incumbent upon the attorneys of today and tomorrow, who stand on the shoulders of prior generations of civil rights attorneys, to continue the fight for justice and parity.

The requirements for the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law concentration are intended to ensure that students who receive a certificate in the program are well-versed in civil rights and constitutional law matters.  Moreover, students must demonstrate a genuine interest in the field of civil rights and constitutional law through their involvement in a related pro bono placement or externship.

In addition, participation in a civil rights conference is mandated, with the expectation that students will have the opportunity to interface with, learn from, and be inspired by civil rights activists.  Finally, students must complete their preparation for the certificate by critically and creatively analyzing a significant civil rights issue in a thought-provoking and well-written article of publishable quality.

The requirements and guidelines for certification in the civil rights and constitutional law concentration are available below.

Students must complete eight (8) credits from the menu below:

• Criminal Procedure
• Civil Rights
• Critical Race Theory
• Sexual Identity and the Law
• Legal Letters:  Disability Law
• Employment Discrimination
• Race and the Law
• Women in the Law
• Immigration Law
• Elder Law
• Environmental Law
• Educational Justice
• Legal Problems of the Poor
• Intellectual Property and Equitable Allocation of Resources
• Corporate Social Responsibility and Intersection of Tax Policy
• Corporate Justice
• Environmental Justice

Students must complete the public interest externship.

Pro bono placements in the public interest externship consistent with the doctrinal courses listed above will satisfy the “civil rights” requirement.  These placements include focuses on children/juveniles, civil rights, criminal law defense, death penalty, disability services, education law, environmental justice, gay and lesbian rights, housing/landlord/tenant issues, immigrants’ rights, low-income clients, mental disability services, minority/low income landowners, prisoners’ rights, public benefits, public policy, advocacy, sentencing reform, and wrongful conviction.

1. Attend a conference related to civil rights.
2. Write an article of publishable quality pertaining to a civil rights issue.
   • The article must:
     • Pertain to a civil rights issue;
     • Consist of a minimum of 15 pages and a maximum of 25 pages; and
     • Be of "publishable quality." Note: A law journal article of “publishable quality” is one that is well-written, organized, analytically and grammatically sound, and adheres to the Blue Book citation format.
   •  The article must be submitted to the advisor for the North Carolina Central University Civil Rights and Constitutional Law concentration on or before the first Friday in March at 12 noon.  Articles will not be accepted after this date and time. Articles will be returned to students two weeks after the March due date.
   • Articles that fail to satisfy the “publishable quality” requirement due to major substantive and technical deficiencies will be rejected, and the students will not be permitted to revise and resubmit the article.
   • Students who submit articles that fail to satisfy the “publishable quality” requirement due to minor substantive and technical deficiencies will have the opportunity to resubmit their revised article for a determination of whether the article, as revised, meets the “publishable quality” requirement.
   • Articles that qualify for a resubmission must be received by the advisor for the North Carolina Central University Civil Rights and Constitutional Law concentration on or before the first Friday in April at 12 noon. No articles will be accepted after this time. 
   • All articles must be submitted electronically via email.
   • The associate dean for Academic Affairs and the students will be notified of the decision regarding the publishable quality of the articles on or before the second Friday in April.

The determination of whether all requirements for the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law concentration have been met for purposes of the issuance of a certificate will be made by the associate dean for Academic Affairs.

Even before finishing a full program for a law degree, getting a law certificate can help you strengthen your portfolio and launch your career. If you already have a degree, a certificate can help you grow your career, remain current on industry developments, and acquire specific skills.

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