SALT's mission is to:

make the legal profession more inclusive and reflective of the great diversity of this nation
enhance the quality of legal education by advancing social justice within the curriculum and promoting innovative teaching methodologies
extend the power of law to underserved individuals and communities

A Disturbing Trend in Law School Admissions Continues

Columbia Law School’s Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic, in collaboration with SALT, has just completed its revision of “A Disturbing Trend in Law School Admissions,” a website that analyzes the demographics of law school admissions over the last fifteen years. The results are indeed “disturbing.” The percentage of African-American and Mexican-American students enrolled at U.S. law schools declined in the last 15 years, even though students in both groups improved their grades and LSAT scores.

According to this new analysis of Law School Admissions Council data, percentages for both groups dropped even though 3,000 more first-year seats became available as the number of ABA-approved law schools increased to 200.

Despite these circumstances, there was a 7.5% drop in the representation of African-American students entering the class of 2008 compared to 1993, with an 11.7 percent decline in Mexican-American students during that period. This trend is especially disturbing because the number of applicants held relatively constant and average undergraduate grade-point averages and LSAT scores improved over the 15-year period. None of the new 3,000 seats at the twenty-four new law schools have been filled by students from these traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

On January 14, 2010, LSAC issued an email to the deans of American law schools questioning this analysis. Click here to read the LSAC's email to deans.

Click here to read Professor Conrad Johnson's response to the LSAC's criticism.

ABA Presidential Diversity Initiative, Report on Diversity in the Profession, February 2010

Vulnerable Populations and Economic Realities Conference, March 19-20

SALT and Golden Gate University School of Law and SALT are co-sponsoring a two-day teaching conference Vulnerable Populations and Economic Realities: an interdisciplinary approach to law teaching. An array of speakers and panels will examine how to effectively incorporate economic

Upcoming Openings on the SALT Board of Governors

The Nominations Committee is currently soliciting the names of SALT members who can run for one of several upcoming openings on the Board of Governors. Service on the Board of Governors gives members a close and active opportunity to shape and enforce

SALT Raises Questions for States Considering Adoption of the Uniform Bar Exam

During the week of January 18, 2010, SALT is distributing a memorandum "SALT RAISES QUESTIONS FOR STATES CONSIDERING ADOPTION OF A UNIFORM BAR EXAM" to...

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With law school accreditation standards under review, a decline in the admissions of traditionally underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, and an economic crisis that will impact the legal academy and the profession for years to come ...