Commitment to Inclusive Excellence

Students and faculty at the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) Welcome Brunch and the Latinx Law Students Association (LLSA) Annual Bienvenida Potluck. 

Fall 2026 entering J.D. Class 

• 26% first-generation college students 
• 83% first-generation law school students 
• 24% Pell Grant eligible 
• 28% identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ community 
• 49.5% students of color 
• 20–41 age range 
• 83% entered law school with at least one year of work experience 

Curriculum and Student Opportunities 

Race & Indigeneity Course Requirement 

In 2021, UC Irvine Law became the first University of California law school — and among the few nationwide — to require students to complete a graded course focused on race, indigeneity, and structural inequity. The faculty remains committed to exposing students to key equity concepts across a range of identities and experiences, including dis/ability, gender and sexuality, socioeconomic background, system involvement, and more. Students can choose from a wide array of courses to fulfill this requirement. 

Student Organizations and Affinity Groups 

Student organizations are a vital part of student life at UC Irvine Law. There are a variety of student organizations that actively produce activities and events for the campus community, including several affinity groups. You can find a good fit for you by visiting our A-Z Listing of Student Organizations | UC Irvine Law.  

Center for Black Culture, Resources, and Research (CBCRR)

The mission of the Center for Black Cultures, Resources, and Research (CBCRR) is to provide a just, safe, vibrant, inclusive, culturally supportive, and socio-ecologically sustainable space – a home away from home – where Black students can thrive and reach for their highest potential. Our focus is on health, wellness, vitality, and academic success. The signature programs include:

• Sista Circle: Sista Circle is a student support group for womxn of the Black diaspora.  Sister Circles have been used within the Black community to educate and raise awareness about physical and mental health.  They work to empower women of Color to be their best selves and support each other through talk, laughter - and sometimes food!  Our Sister Circle is open to faculty, staff, and students at UC Irvine.
  
  Weeks 2 - 10 (Fall Quarter) and Weeks 1-10 (Winter & Spring Quarter)
  Wednesdays, 4 pm - 5:30 pm - Center for Black Cultures
  Facilitated by Niobe Duke, Program Coordinator of the CBCRR
  
  
• SPACE - SPACE is a student support group for Queer & Questioning folks of the African diaspora.  SPACE acknowledges the unique burden of challenging hetero-normative and homophobic practices within the Black community while critiquing the neglect of the Black experience within the Queer community. Understanding the intersections of identity, we stand in solidarity against racism and homophobia.  Our SPACE is open to faculty, staff, and students at UC Irvine.
  
  Weeks 2-10 (Fall Quarter) and Weeks 1-10 (Winter & Spring Quarter)
  Tuesdays, 4 pm - 5:30 pm - Center for Black Cultures
  Facilitated by Aja Trotter, CBCRR Psychologist-In-Residence
  
  
• Wabruda: Wabruda is a Men's Group - Student Support Group for men of the Black/African diaspora.  The Men's Group is used within the Black community to educate and empower young Black men by providing positive role models and leaders to guide the next generation.  Our goal is to improve the quality of life within our communities and enhance educational and economic opportunities for all of the African diaspora.  Our Men's Group is open to faculty, staff, and students at UC Irvine.
  
  Weeks 2- 10 (Fall Quarter) and Weeks 3-10 (Winter & Spring Quarter)
  Wednesdays, 5:30 pm - 7 pm - Center for Black Cultures
  Facilitated by Adisa Ajamu, Director of the Center for Black Cultures, Resources, & Research
  
  
• Black Baccalaureate Celebration
  Wednesday, June 2, 2027, 7:00 p.m.
  Irvine Barclay Theater
  Reception starts at 6:00 p.m.
  
  
• Movie Nights
  The CBCRR hosts one or two black movie nights each year TBA
  
  
• Counselor in Residence: Aja Trotter, Senior Staff Psychologist - Coordinator of Black/African Diasporic Mental Health Programs for the Counseling Center
  
  Psychologist Drop In Hours:
  Weeks 1 - 10
  Wednesdays 1 pm - 2 pm

Free Services for Black Students at the CBCRR:

• Free Printing & School Supplies
• Laptop Loan Program
• Free Snacks
• Lending Library Reservations

For more about the services and support at the Center for Black Cultures, Resources & Research please visit the CBCRR website.

Expanding Access to Legal Education

UC Irvine Law offers a variety of programs designed to expand pathways to law school and the legal profession for students from diverse backgrounds.

Saturday Academy of Law 

UC Irvine Law created the Saturday Academy as an opportunity to expose high school students from diverse backgrounds to the practice of law and help them understand that a career as an attorney is a viable option.

• Six-week program for ninth-grade students
• Serves students from Anaheim Union High School District and Santa Ana Unified School District
• Approximately 75–150 students participate each semester
• More than 2,000 students have participated since 2009

Pre-Law Outreach Program

Designed for first-generation college students, POP provides law school preparation, mentorship and admissions guidance.

• More than 600 students have participated since 2010
• Three POP alumni entered UC Irvine Law in 2025
• Thirteen POP alumni have matriculated to UC Irvine Law during the past five years

Community College Pathway to Law School

UC Irvine Law is a partner in California LAW Pathways, a statewide initiative creating pathways from high school and community college to law school and legal careers.

Thrive Scholars Scholarship Initiative

UC Irvine Law and Thrive Scholars established a $90,000 scholarship for qualified recipients admitted to UC Irvine Law.

Founded in 2001 in South Central Los Angeles with a mission rooted in equity, Thrive Scholars is dedicated to helping high-achieving, underrepresented students from economically disadvantaged communities get into and graduate from top colleges equipped to achieve their full career potential.

Point Foundation Scholarship Initiative

UC Irvine Law and Point Foundation established a scholarship initiative for Point alumni and graduating Point Scholars.

The initiative guarantees a minimum scholarship for Point Scholars or alumni of Point's Flagship, Community College and BIPOC programs who have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate program and are later admitted into UC Irvine Law's J.D. program. Successful applicants admitted to UC Irvine Law who are part of this scholarship initiative will receive a $90,000 tuition scholarship over three years.

Point is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
(LGBTQ) students studying on campuses across the United States.

Supporting Student Success

UC Irvine Law provides a range of academic, professional and financial resources to help students thrive throughout law school.

Programs and resources include:

• Free online introduction-to-law-school course
• Comprehensive Orientation program
• Required first-semester Legal Profession course
• Extensive mentoring programs
• Academic Skills Program
• Career counseling
• Health and wellness resources
• Financial literacy workshops
• Need-based financial aid
• Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

Civil Discourse and Belonging

UC Irvine Law supports ideological diversity and civil discourse through its curriculum, programming and student life.

Students have opportunities to engage with a broad range of viewpoints through:

• Student organizations representing diverse perspectives and experiences
• Hundreds of guest speakers each year
• More than a dozen research centers and institutes
• Professionalism and civility programming
• Legal Profession course
• Faculty leadership in free speech, conflict resolution and press freedom
• Policies supporting academic freedom and freedom of expression
• Academic Skills Program
• Legal Professional Pathways Program (LPP)
• Race and Indigeneity curriculum requirement
• Programs and discussions on contemporary legal issues

Community Engagement

Community engagement is a core part of the UC Irvine Law experience.

Through clinical programs, externships and one of the nation's most robust pro bono programs, students work alongside community partners to address legal challenges and expand access to justice. Students gain hands-on experience serving clients and communities locally, nationally and globally, including through alternative break projects and the work of centers and initiatives such as the Korea Law Center, Initiative for Inclusive Civil Justice, Pay Equity Project, Student Loan Law Initiative, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality and Center on Law, Equality, and Race.

Admissions and Retention Strategies

UC Irvine Law has a diverse Admissions and Aid office that implements broad recruiting strategies that follow best practices in engaging students from all over the United States from all backgrounds and perspectives.

Examples include:

• Nationwide J.D. recruitment efforts
• Pipeline initiatives and outreach programs
• Peer recruiting and Admissions Ambassadors
• 3+3 pathway programs and scholarship partnerships
• Concurrent degree opportunities
• Admitted Students Weekend programming
• Dean's Pre-Law Support Grant Program for Student Organizations
• Native American Opportunity Plan

Recognition

UC Irvine Law has received national recognition for its commitment to opportunity, access and student success. In preLaw Magazine's Winter 2024 rankings, the Law School was recognized as the No. 1 school for support of Asian students, No. 9 for support of Hispanic students and No. 25 for support of Black students. In 2025, Princeton Review ranked UC Irvine Law No. 6 for greatest resources for minority students and No. 10 for most diverse faculty. The Law School also received an "A" grade for racial justice from preLaw Magazine in 2024 and was ranked No. 18 among the nation's most diverse law schools in 2023.

Leadership

Cindy Archer

Associate Dean for Equity
Professor of Lawyering Skills
carcher@law.uci.edu

Jennah Jones

Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence
jjones@law.uci.edu 
(949) 824-1304