85 Years of Excellence: The Enduring Legacy of NCCU Law

ON MARCH 1, 1939, THE NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY enacted House Bill 18, which authorized a law school at North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University), paving the way for a new generation of African American lawyers in North Carolina.

At the time, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was the only state-supported law school and barred the admission of African Americans. Shaw University in Raleigh had closed its law school back in 1914, a move that left no in-state option for African Americans to receive a formal legal education.

The legislation was, in theory, a way to create a separate-but-equal option for African Americans who wanted to become lawyers, without integrating UNC-Chapel Hill.

Since its inception, the NCCU School of Law – one of only six historically Black law schools remaining in the country –has continued to produce practice-ready lawyers and leaders committed to public service and to meeting the needs of underserved communities.

As we mark the 85th anniversary, we reflect on the indelible impact the law school has had on the legal landscape of North Carolina. Eight and a half decades of shaping legal minds, defending justice, serving on the bench, and contributing to the evolution of the legal profession, merit reflection and celebration.

The legal field has undergone remarkable transformations over the past 85 years and our law school has been at the forefront of adapting to these changes. From case law to incorporating innovative technologies, the NCCU School of Law has continually evolved to meet the demands of an ever-changing legal landscape.

Beyond the lecture halls and courtrooms, the NCCU School of Law has had a lasting impact on the communities it serves. Pro bono initiatives, legal clinics, internships, externships and community outreach programs have enabled our students and faculty to meet the needs of the underserved and contribute meaningfully in access to justice.

The 85 years of the law school's existence have been marked not only by academic achievement, but by a commitment to the principles of justice and equity.

We have worked to ensure our student body, faculty, staff and alumni reflect the rich tapestry of backgrounds and perspectives that make the legal profession vibrant and representative of the diverse society in which we live.

’BY TERRI HYMAN

Celebrating 85 Years I Events

For more events, visit: nccu.edu/nccu-school-law -85th-anniversary

MAY 2024

■ Class of 1974 Golden Legal Eagles Recognition

■ 85th Anniversary Golf Tournament

OCTOBER 2024

■ Law and Technology Symposium and Summit

■ 85th Anniversary Gala

NOVEMBER 2024

■ Homecoming Alumni Fish Fry

NCCU Law alumni have made history throughout the state and nation.

NOTABLE ALUMNI INCLUDE:

Wanda G. Bryant ’82, first African American woman to be an assistant district attorney in the 13th prosecutorial district of North Carolina.

George Kenneth “G.K.” Butterfield Jr. ’74, served as U.S. representative for North Carolina's First Congressional district from 2004 to 2022; first NCCU graduate to serve on the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Michael F. Easley ’76, first NCCU Law alumnus to serve as attorney general and governor of North Carolina.

Willie E. Gary ’74, named one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country; Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx played the real-life Willie Gary in the movie, “The Burial,” released in 2023.

Maynard Jackson ’63, first African American mayor of Atlanta in 1974; youngest person to be elected to the office at age 35

Clifton Earl Johnson ’67, first NCCU Law graduate to serve as resident superior court judge of Mecklenburg County and the first to sit on the N.C. Court of Appeals; in 1974, he became the first African American to serve as chief district court judge in Mecklenburg County and in North Carolina.

H.M. “Mickey” Michaux ’64, first African American to serve as a U.S. attorney in the South; longest serving member of the North Carolina General Assembly upon his retirement; The NCCU School of Education building was named after Rep. Michaux on June 15, 2007.

Floyd B. McKissick ’51, national executive director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE); in 1972, he launched Soul City, North Carolina, the first new town sponsored primarily by African American enterprise.

The Honorable Elaine O’Neal ’91, first African American woman to be mayor of Durham; former N.C. Superior Court judge.