UB Law School Recognized as a "Best School" for Black Students

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Law School has been chosen as one of the best law schools for black students.

The recognition comes from On Being a Black Lawyer (OBABL), a resource center and social media firm that supports African Americans' success in law school. OBABL's The Black Student's Guide to Law Schools will be published Oct. 17.

The book lists the UB Law School as one of the five best law schools in the East Coast region for black students. The list, which is not ranked, also includes the laws schools of Rutgers, the City University of New York, the University of Connecticut and the University of Maine.

Schools were chosen for inclusion based on eight factors: cost, alumni placement rate, the number of distinguished black alumni, selectivity in admissions, black student population, the strength of the local legal job market, the local cost of living and the local black population. The rankings committee was composed of OBABL editorial staff, law school fellows and professional advisors.

"We believe law school graduates are best served when they attend law school in a region where they would like to work," the book says. "Our best regional law schools are highly regarded, particularly in nearby states. Law graduates from these excellent institutions are well positioned to have successful legal careers without the burden of excessive loan debt."

Said OBABL's chief executive officer, Yolanda Young: "We highly endorse the law schools that appear on our list. After months of careful and meticulous research, we are confident these law schools provide the clearest path to law school success for future black attorneys."

UB Law School administrators have made diversity a priority in admissions and recruiting decisions, and students of color are a prominent presence at the school. Of the Class of 2015 that entered this fall, for example, 18 percent are persons of color, and the UB Law School's Black Law Students Association is a very active student organization.

"We're delighted at this recognition, which testifies to our commitment to creating a law school that looks like America," said UB Law School Dean Makau W. Mutua, the first person of color to lead the UB Law School in its 125-year history. "We are moving from a regional law school to one of national and global reputation. But as New York State's only public law school, we have a responsibility to ensure access for talented students from all walks of life."

Since its founding in 1887, the UB Law School -- the State University of New York system's only law school -- has established an excellent reputation and is widely regarded as a leader in legal education. Its cutting-edge curriculum provides both a strong theoretical foundation and the practical tools graduates need to succeed in a competitive marketplace, wherever they choose to practice. A special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, public service and opportunities for hands-on clinical education makes the UB Law School unique among the nation's premier public law schools.