In 2020, in an ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Case Western Reserve University School of Law began to pursue strategic partnerships with select Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Designed to encourage a greater number of under-represented minority students to attend the law school, these partnerships offer incentives to students graduating from those institutions to apply and enroll at the School of Law.
Most recently, these partnerships now include Howard University, a historically Black research university located in Washington, D.C. One of the premier HBCUs in the country, Howard has a stellar record of academic excellence, commitment to community and service and a strong interest in educating outstanding future leaders.
“Howard teaches and trains their students in the same way we teach ours.” said Bryan Adamson, the David L. and Ann Brennan Professor of Law and Associate Dean of Diversity and Inclusion at the law school, who has taken the lead in negotiating the partnerships.
The new president of Howard University, Ben Vinson III, was previously the provost of Case Western Reserve University. In addition, Case Western Reserve University School of Law has a number of connections to the area, with nearly 500 alumni residing in D.C. Graduates of Case Western Reserve University School of Law have ample opportunities for experiential learning in Washington, as well as prospective employment in the area after graduation.
“At Case Western Reserve University School of Law, diversity is a core value,” Adamson said “We believe these partnerships align with our values—that access to justice is essential for a democratic society. Diversity in legal education and, by extension, the legal profession, better ensures access to—and the quality of—legal services that all communities deserve.”
“Thanks to Associate Dean Adamson’s efforts, we now have more of these strategic partnership agreements than practically any other Law School,” said Co-Dean Michael Scharf. Since the partnership program began, the number of partnerships forged has reached thirteen and include Hispanic- and Native-American-serving institutions of higher education.
These pipeline agreements started with Hampton University, Morehouse College, Spelman College and Xavier University (Louisiana). Since then, the school has added Tuskegee University, Tougaloo College, University of Alaska Anchorage, Dominican University, Bemidji State University, Dillard University, the University of North Carolina-Pembroke and John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
A signing ceremony with Howard University is tentatively planned for April.