Law School Admission Practices

Established in 1939, North Carolina Central University School of Law provides a quality, personalized, practice-oriented legal education to students from diverse backgrounds at an affordable cost. The NCCU School of Law remains focused on training lawyers who have a desire to give back to their communities and are committed to civil rights and social justice.

The law school’s admissions policy has long held to a process that reviews applications in a fair and consistent manner. The aim of our review process is to identify those students who will find academic success in the classroom and will become effective advocates and make significant contributions to the legal profession.

Members of the admissions committee review applications holistically. The committee members evaluate the academic record of each applicant while also assessing other credentials in your file. The committee review places substantial weight on grades and LSAT scores, but the committee also understands that other factors and attributes contribute greatly to a person’s ability to succeed as a law school student and as a lawyer. When assessing achievement in tandem with academic promise, the committee considers attributes such as the following:

• the rigor of your undergraduate educational program;
• your personal statement, which should demonstrate your ability to write and to communicate your intellectual curiosity, creativity, problem-solving skills, determination in the face of adversity, and motivation to attend law school;
• your letters of recommendation, which should describe your initiative, integrity, work ethic, analytical ability, academic achievement, and aptitude for law studies;
• your resume, which should be in chronological order and highlight your scholarly achievements, such as graduate study, awards, and publications, along with community engagement and leadership roles that provide context about your ability to contribute to the law school community and the legal profession;

Note: If you answer “yes” to any of the questions or if you previously matriculated at a law school, you must submit an addendum to explain the circumstances.

Over the past several years, NCCU Law admissions standards have become more competitive as the faculty seeks to strengthen the academic profile of the entering class. Currently, an applicant must have a minimum LSAT score of 142 to be considered for admission. The admissions committee may also request an interview with a prospective student to ascertain the applicant’s ability to succeed in law school. The committee does not interview every applicant, and an applicant may not request an interview.

North Carolina Central University is committed to the principles of affirmative action and non-discrimination. The University welcomes diversity in its student body, its staff, its faculty, and its administration. The University admits, hires, evaluates, promotes, and rewards on the basis of the needs and relevant performance criteria without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran’s status, or religion. It actively promotes diversity and respect for each individual.

(as mandated by Federal Statute 20 USC § 1092)

The Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report include institutional policies concerning campus safety and security, as well as statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on North Carolina Central University property and on public property adjacent to campus and fires that have occurred in residence halls. A copy of this report can be obtained by contacting the NCCU Police Department at 919-530-6106, writing to 2010 Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC 27707, or visiting this page.