Brief
DOJ says UCLA Law used race in admissions, favoring Black and Hispanic applicants
The department’s review found the school favored Black and Hispanic candidates and gave lower LSAT thresholds for them.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday that the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law illegally considered race in its admissions process, discriminating against white and Asian applicants in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 entering classes.
The review said the school admitted Black applicants with lower average LSAT scores than white applicants and that admissions staff directed prospective students at a “Diversity Admissions Open House” on how to disclose their race in essays. Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, called the practice a “two‑tiered admissions system” that shifts the academic bar based on skin colour.
UCLA Law responded that it follows a “comprehensive, merit‑based review process” and is confident its admissions comply with the law. The finding follows a similar DOJ conclusion about UCLA’s medical school and comes amid broader Trump‑administration scrutiny of college admissions, including accusations against UC Berkeley Law and UC San Diego’s medical school.
Key facts
- The DOJ concluded UCLA Law illegally used race in admissions for the 2023‑2025 classes. (independent.co.uk)
- Black applicants were admitted with lower average LSAT scores than white applicants. (independent.co.uk)
- Admissions staff instructed applicants on how to reveal race during a Diversity Admissions Open House. (independent.co.uk)
- UCLA Law said its process is merit‑based and complies with applicable laws. (independent.co.uk)
- The finding follows a similar DOJ determination about UCLA’s medical school. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “Justice Department finds UCLA law school illegally used race in admissions”
