Coordinator combats law school diversity problems
Feb. 27, 2007
Although recent reports from the Mound City Bar Association brought attention to the lack of diversity in Missouri's law schools, the MU School of Law maintains that this is not a unique problem.
The MCBA analyzed the recruitment, enrollment and retention of black students at all four UM system law schools between 2002 and 2005 in order to determine whether touted initiatives had any effect on producing a diverse population of students.
The MCBA is the oldest black bar association west of the Mississippi River and seeks to advance the professional interests and professional development of its members, according to its Web site. JR Swanegan, Student Diversity Coordinator at the MU School of Law, maintains that though the report pinpoints Missouri law schools in particular, the problem can be generalized to the entire legal community.
"It's an issue at every law school," Swanegen said. "However, the population breakdown is different in New York City, St. Louis and Columbia, Mo."
He said it is unfair for the report to compare Missouri schools with those from around the country because the school generally reflects the population demographics of the area.
The MU School of Law in particular is at a disadvantage because the other three schools in the UM system are located in urban communities, Swanegan said.
Although the data analyzed in the report showed a decline in black law students within the time frame measured, statistics from the past year indicate that black enrollment has increased within the MU School of Law.
Total enrollment for black undergraduate and graduate students increased while white enrollment declined.
Still, in 2006, black students made up only five percent of the MU School of Law.
Swanegan said the reason black students make up such a small percentage of students within the School of Law is because of a narrow pool of applicants.He said the four UM system law schools in particular are competing to create an ideal diverse populous of students while all targeting the same small number of eligible students.
Swanegan said the MU School of Law recruitment strategy attempts to expand its recruitment radius, targeting all the area colleges as well as more diverse populations, including Atlanta and Chicago.
According to the report, one of the reasons for low black enrollment might be the importance placed on the Law School Admissions Test. MCBA president Pamela Meanes could not be reached for comment.
The report stated that black test takers typically score lower on the test than other groups, making their applications weaker and less likely to be accepted into law schools.
Swanegen disagreed, citing heavy competition and a lack of interested black students.
He said the trend of students taking the LSAT, going to law school and finally reaching a job at a law firm is slowly declining.
He said many students take the LSAT and then go into a different field, narrowing the prospective law school student population even further.
To accommodate this trend, Swanegen said MU the School of Law began to recruit within the undergraduates on campus, particularly within the College of Business.
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