North Carolina Central University School of Law: A Legacy of Opportunity and Excellence

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) School of Law, located in Durham, North Carolina, stands as a beacon of opportunity and a testament to the transformative power of legal education. Founded in 1939 with a mission to provide access to legal education for African Americans, the school has evolved into a diverse and inclusive institution, committed to producing competent and socially responsible members of the legal profession. The school remains one of the most affordable law schools in the country.

Historical Context and Mission

The North Carolina General Assembly enacted House Bill 18 on March 1, 1939, authorizing a law school at North Carolina College for Negroes (now known as North Carolina Central University). This legislation emerged from a critical need: the only previous law school open to blacks in the state, at Shaw University in Raleigh, had closed in 1914. The new law school aimed to provide a "separate-but-equal" option for African Americans seeking a formal legal education, without integrating the law school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Today, NCCU School of Law embraces its heritage while serving a diverse student body. Its mission is to provide a high-quality, personalized, practice-oriented, and affordable legal education to historically underserved students, thereby diversifying the legal profession. The school is accredited by the North Carolina State Bar Council and the American Bar Association (ABA) since 1950.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

NCCU School of Law offers two programs leading to the Juris Doctor (JD) degree:

Full-Time Day Program: A traditional three-year program designed for students who wish to dedicate their full attention to legal studies.
Part-Time Evening Program: The oldest ABA-accredited part-time evening program between Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, DC, catering to students who need to balance their studies with work or other commitments.

Joint-Degree Programs

For students seeking interdisciplinary expertise, NCCU School of Law offers six joint-degree programs in collaboration with other departments and institutions:

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JD/MBA: In conjunction with the university's business school, for those interested in law and business careers.
JD/MLS: For aspiring law librarians, combining legal studies with library science.
JD/MIS: Focuses on the intersection of law and information technology.
JD/MPA: For careers in the public sector and law.
JD/MA in History: Exploring the relationship between law and social movements, economic change, politics, and government.
JD/MPP: A collaboration with Duke University for students interested in public policy and law.

Specialized Institutes and Programs

NCCU School of Law is home to several institutes and programs that provide specialized training and research opportunities:

Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Law Institute: Established as a center of excellence in the field of biotechnology and pharmaceutical law through its multidisciplinary approach in teaching, research, and publications.
Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI): Offers professional certificate training, clinics, and courses in alternative dispute resolution methods.
Clinical Legal Education Program: An award-winning program providing practical skills training through innovative clinical experiences in various areas of law.
Academic Success Program: Assists students with the rigors of law school through workshops and individualized support.
Invest in Success Program: This bar preparation program assists graduates with developing the skills needed to write a passing essay answer for the North Carolina and other state bar examinations. Invest in Success has two principal components: substantive lectures and essay practice sessions. The substantive lectures focus on subjects frequently tested on bar examinations. The essay practice sessions give participants the opportunity to answer essay questions covering a variety of bar-tested subjects and receive individual feedback on their responses.
Flight School: Equips students with essential academic skills necessary for success, including critical legal reading, case briefing, analytical reasoning, and writing. During the program, students participate in a series of lectures and workshops led by experienced faculty members.
Poverty Research Project: Examines and documents economic insecurity in North Carolina.

Maritime Law Summer Program

In collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, NCCU School of Law launched a Maritime Law Summer Program.

Admissions and Enrollment

Admission to NCCU School of Law is competitive. For a competitive law school application to NCCU School of Law, students should aim to meet or exceed the median statistics. Based on the 2025 ABA 509 Report, 1303 candidates submitted JD applications to NCCU School of Law and 509 received acceptance letters. This means that of the 509 applicants who received law school acceptance letters, 133 chose to enroll. The application deadline is April 30. The application fee is $50 for both full-time and part-time programs.

Performance Based Admission Program (PBAP)

As part of its commitment to its mission, NCCU School of Law offers a limited number of applicants the opportunity to gain admission through its Performance Based Admission Program (PBAP). Participation in this program is based upon factors identified in a student’s application, and selections are made by the Faculty Admissions Committee. The committee’s decisions are based upon a number of factors including, but not limited to, a history of below-average standardized test scores along with demonstrated academic performance, work experience, a significant time lapse between the undergraduate degree and law school application, completion of other advanced degrees, and a socioeconomically disadvantaged background.

Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid

NCCU School of Law provides one of the most cost-effective legal educations in the country. Tuition for both full-time and part-time programs is $19,125 per year for in-state students and $41,797 for out-of-state students.

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The school offers financial aid to assist students with the cost of attendance.

Student Life and Resources

NCCU School of Law provides a supportive and enriching environment for its students.

Law Library

The law library provides access to print and electronic information resources in support of the law school’s curriculum, programs, organizations, and scholarship. Professional librarians, five with law degrees, are ready to help with legal research in our over 390,000 volumes of legal materials. The law library provides a wide variety of spaces for students and faculty to engage in collaborative work, quiet study, and innovative research. The first floor of the library includes a light-filled reading room, soft seating, and space for collaborative study. The second floor contains modern study carrels and soft seating for individual study as well as seven group-study rooms.

Student Organizations and Activities

There are three student-run law reviews published at the school. The North Carolina Central Law Review is devoted to a broad range of legal topics submitted by legal scholars, attorneys, and law students. Students are selected for membership based upon GPA and performance in the annual Law Review Writing Competition. The Environmental Law Review provides valuable experience in reading, researching, and writing about current issues in environmental law with a focus on environmental justice. The Trial Advocacy Board consists of student teams who participate in mock jury trial competitions.

Career Services

The office provides a variety of services and programming to assist students and alumni with their career goals. Services include individual counseling, group counseling (when requested), résumé and cover letter reviews, application package reviews, a monthly newsletter, and interview preparation. Programming selections typically fall under either career education or professional development. The career education programming provides opportunities for students to learn about practice areas and ways to use their law degree. The professional development programs emphasize law students’ growth as legal professionals. Students participate in career fairs and interview programs locally, statewide, regionally, and nationally.

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Facilities

The school is located in Durham, North Carolina on the campus of NCCU in the Albert L. Turner Building. The Turner Building is an 87,672 sq. ft. four-story brick structure that contains moot courtrooms, a model law office, classrooms, and an administrative wing. The NCCU Law Library contains over 400,000 volumes and volume equivalents, and provides an environment for study and research. The ground floor of the building contains individual offices for student organizations, a student lounge, and canteen/vending area. There is a fully equipped computer lab and wireless internet throughout the building. Technology Assisted Legal Instruction and Services, (also known as TALIAS), expands access to the School's legal education and clinical programs.

Notable Alumni

NCCU School of Law has produced numerous distinguished alumni who have made significant contributions to the legal profession, government, and society. Some notable alumni include:

Wanda G. Bryant (1982): First African-American woman to be an Assistant District Attorney in the 13th prosecutorial district of North Carolina.
Maynard Jackson (1963): First African-American mayor of Atlanta in 1974.
Clifton E. Johnson (1967): First African-American Assistant State Prosecutor for North Carolina since the 19th century (1969), the first African-American District Court judge in North Carolina, the first African-American Chief District Court judge, and the first African-American Resident Superior Court judge for North Carolina. He was the first African-American to be appointed to the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Leroy R. Johnson (1957): First African-American member of the Georgia State Senate since reconstruction.
Floyd B. McKissick, Sr. (1951): Became National executive director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).
H.M. "Mickey" Michaux, Jr. (1964): First African-American in the 20th Century to serve as a United States Attorney in the South. He was a member of the North Carolina General Assembly; upon his retirement, he was its longest-serving member.

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