Harvard Law Faces Historic Drop in Black Enrollment After Affirmative Action Ruling

Black student enrollment at Harvard Law School has significantly dropped following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision against race-based admissions. The ruling, which struck down affirmative action policies, deemed the use of race as a factor in college admissions a violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.

According to a report by The New York Times, Harvard Law enrolled just 19 Black first-year students this fall, making up 3.4% of the class. This marks the lowest number since the 1960s. By comparison, the previous year’s first-year class included 43 Black students. Harvard Law spokesman Jeff Neal stated that the school remains committed to diversity within legal education while adhering to the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“When the Supreme Court ruled last year, it was understood that the decision would impact, in ways that could not be fully anticipated, the ability of educational institutions across the nation, including law schools, to attract and admit a diverse cohort of students,” Neal said. He added that conclusions drawn from just one year of data are “necessarily limited.”

However, some faculty members expressed deep concern over the decline. Harvard Law Professor David B. Wilkins, who studies Black representation in the legal field, described the drop as a result of the “chilling effect” caused by the court’s decision. “This is the lowest number of Black entering first-year students since 1965,” Wilkins said. That year, 15 Black students enrolled. From 1970 onward, Harvard Law typically admitted between 50 and 70 Black students annually.

Sean Wynn, president of the Harvard Black Law Students Association, called the enrollment decline a “crushing loss” that fundamentally changes the experience of attending Harvard Law. Additionally, the number of Black men in the 2023 first-year class fell to just six students.

The impact extended beyond Black student enrollment. Harvard Law also saw a decline in Hispanic students, with numbers falling from 63 students (11% of the class) in 2023 to 39 students (6.9%) this year. Meanwhile, enrollment of white and Asian students increased.

While top-tier schools like Harvard experienced declines, UCLA law professor and affirmative action critic Richard Sander noted an overall increase in Black law school enrollment nationwide. According to the American Bar Association, Black enrollment across all law schools rose by 3% to 3,060 students in 2023, up from 2,969 in the previous year.

Sander argued that while Harvard’s drop may seem concerning, it could benefit some Black students by enabling them to attend schools where they are “better matched and poised to succeed.” He also highlighted that data might be influenced by students identifying as multiracial or opting not to disclose their race.

The Supreme Court’s decision continues to reshape the landscape of higher education admissions. As institutions adapt, the debate over diversity, equity, and merit in legal education remains highly charged.

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