Howard University School of Law
175px|Howard University
TypePrivate
Established1869
Postgraduates450
Location,
DeanKurt L. Schmoke
Websitewww.law.howard.edu

Howard University School of Law also known as (Howard Law or HUSL) is one of the professional graduate schools of Howard University. Located in Washington, D.C., it is the oldest historically black college or university law school in the country. Today, Howard University School of Law confers an average of 185 Juris Doctorate and Master of Law degrees annually to students from the United States and countries in South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia. Howard University School of Law is fully approved by the American Bar Association and is a member of the Association of American Law Schools.[1]


History

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Howard University School of Law started as Howard University Law Department on January 6, 1869 under the leadership of Professor John Mercer Langston. At the time, there was a great need to train lawyers who would have a strong commitment to helping black Americans secure and protect their newly established rights. In those days, the law school did not have classrooms, the students met at night in the homes and offices of the faculty, all of whom were part-time. In the 20th century, it became not only a school, but also the embodiment of legal activism. It emerged as a “clinic” on justice and injustice in America, as well as a clearinghouse for information on the civil rights struggle.[2]

The objective of the School of Law is to produce superior professionals, capable of achieving positions of leadership in law, business, government, education, and public service. Most importantly, Howard University School of Law is dedicated to producing “social engineers.”[3]


Degrees Offered

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Howard University School of Law offers the Juris Doctor (J.D.), and the Master of Laws (L.L.M). Additionally, students can enroll in the J.D./M.B.A. dual degree program with the Howard School of Business.[4]


Campus

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The campus is located in the upper Northwest quadrant of Washington, D.C., in the Forest Hills area of the city. The law school is located on its own 22-acre campus approximately five miles from the main campus.[5]


Notable Alumni

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Arthur L. Bennett Sr., Superior Court of the District of Columbia Judge

Stephanie Boswick, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge

Aisha N. Braveboy, Maryland House of Delegates

William Bryant, United States District Court Judge

Roland Burris, United States Senate

Robert L. Carter, United States District Court Judge

Mary Ann Shad Cary, first black woman to cast a vote in a national election

Wiley Young Daniel, United States District Court Judge

Adrian Fenty, Mayor of Washington, DC

Emma Gillett, co-founder of American University's Washington College of Law and the first woman to be appointed notary public by the President of the United States

Odell Horton, former United States District Court Judge

Vernon E. Jordan Jr., former president of the National Urban League

Damon Keith, United States Court of Appeals Judge

Sharon Pratt Kelly, Mayor of Washington, DC

Thurgood Marshall, first African American United States Supreme Court Justice

Gregory Meeks, United States House of Representatives

Viki Miles-LaGrange, United States District Court Judge

Gabrielle Kirk McDonald, United States District Court Judge and International Criminal Tribunal

James E. O'Hara, United States House of Representatives

Charlotte E. Ray, first African American female lawyer

Spottswood Robinson, United States Court of Appeals Judge

Emmet G. Sullivan, United States District Court Judge

Walter Washington, first Mayor of Washington, DC

Togo D. West, Jr., former United States Secretary of Veteran Affairs

L. Douglas Wilder, first African American United States Governor and current Mayor of Richmond Virginia

Alexander Williams, United States District Court Judge

Harris Wofford, United States Senate


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http://www.law.howard.edu

Notes & References

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