For more than a century, Brooklyn Law School has distinguished itself as a wellspring of opportunity for members of marginalized or oppressed groups who seek a legal education, including racial and religious minorities, women, immigrants and first-generation Americans, and others. Many who encountered closed doors elsewhere found here a gateway to a new profession and a new life. The aspiration and effort to welcome, and create a safe and supportive environment for, all people, regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender status, or disability, is woven into our history and remains integral to our mission. Yet, as recent months have shown in sharp relief, there is more to be done across the country and at the Law School to truly realize our potential and our obligation to advance diversity and opportunity, and to prepare the next generation of lawyers who will create safe, inclusive, and equitable communities in our profession and in our society.
To that end, we are vigorously engaged in work and conversations across our community to ensure that the law school lives up to its own ambitions, and we are exploring how we, individually and collectively, can formally and informally contribute to that effort. This commitment extends to our academic program. I have charged our faculty curriculum committee, which includes student members, to explore this year what more we can do, consistent with academic freedom, to encourage anti-racist teaching. In addition to curricular change, we remain committed to increasing the diversity of the faculty and to hiring faculty members who are dedicated to exploring issues of race in the law and in society.
I am proud that our students, our faculty, our staff, and our alumni are clearly dedicated to speaking out and taking action to promote genuine freedom, equality, and equal justice for all. Let us continue our engagement and work diligently to achieve our shared goals.
Michael T. Cahill
President, Joseph Crea Dean, and Professor of Law
Resolutions and Advocacy
- Brooklyn Law School Faculty Adopts Anti-Bias Resolution
- Brooklyn Law School Clinical Faculty Statement
- Letter to the ABA from law school deans signed by Dean Michael T. Cahill
- ABA Pledge for Change: Disability Diversity in the Legal Profession
- Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
“Brooklyn Law School is strongly committed to fostering a more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community. This important work includes developing pipeline programs that will ensure a broad and diverse applicant pool; engaging in outreach that will encourage admitted applicants to enroll; supporting the student experience, on an individual and group level; and pursuing employment partnerships and opportunities that will benefit graduates while diversifying the world of legal practice.”
Resources
Faculty Diversity Committee
The Faculty Committee on Student Diversity and Inclusion works to ensure all students at Brooklyn Law School feel welcome and can thrive. We work to eliminate racism, sexism, homophobia, religious bigotry, ableism, and other forms of discrimination from our law school community and support every student in their journey toward a career in the law.
Resources for Becoming Actively Anti-Racist: Actions
This guide was created in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. The guide is intended to serve as a starting point for education, action, and reflection. If you have questions or comments, please direct them to the guide's creators in the box at the bottom left.
Public Service Law Center
Brooklyn Law School's Public Service Law Center serves as a hub of resources and information related to public service programs and initiatives. The PSLC advances the Law School's dynamic tradition of service, offering myriad ways for students to use their legal education to engage in public service, from an expansive array of student-led pro bono projects to innovative fellowship programs.