Moving Beyond Statements and Good Intentions in U.S. Law Schools

Authors

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Boston University School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2024

ISSN

0002-4279

Publisher

University of Alabama School of Law

Language

en-US

Abstract

This Article seeks to answer these questions about how law school leaders might help to cultivate antiracist cultures within their law schools, among their students, and across the legal profession, even in the face of a growing national backlash against antiracism, diversity, equity, and inclusion.³² Part I first establishes why it is important for law schools to "provide [an] education to law students on bias, cross-cultural competency, and racism," as the American Bar Association (ABA) requires, and to train future lawyers who have the abilities to combat racism. ³³ In so doing, Part I defines key terms such as "racism" and "antiracism," detailing and explicating various forms of racism in our society. Part I also discusses the obstacles and challenges that law schools, and the legal profession generally, face in developing effective strategies and cultures to combat racism within law schools, the legal profession, and society as a whole. Part II then sets forth suggestions for policies, practices, rules, and actions that law schools and other legal institutions-such as law firms, legal organizations, government offices, and public interest organizations-can take to build an antiracist and more inclusive legal profession and culture.

Recommended Citation

Angela Onwuachi-Willig, Moving Beyond Statements and Good Intentions in U.S. Law Schools , in 75 Alabama Law Review 691 (2024).
Available at: https://scholarship.law.bu.edu/faculty_scholarship/3868