Full Breakdown
Federal Investigation Targets UC Berkeley Law School Over Race-Discriminatory Admissions
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Violation of Title VI
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. The agencies say the school’s practices breach Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars race-based discrimination by programs receiving federal funds. According to the DOJ, Black applicants in 2025 had 5.8 times higher odds of admission than comparable white applicants, while in 2024 the odds were 6.5 times higher. The letter also cites LSAT disparities: admitted Black students’ median score was about 5 points lower than the median for admitted white and Asian students each year from 2021-2025, and half of admitted Black applicants scored below the 95th percentile of admitted white applicants.
Background & Context
The investigation follows the 2023 Supreme Court decision in *Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard* (SFFA), which held that universities may not use race as a factor in admissions. California’s Proposition 209, approved by voters in 1996, similarly prohibits public institutions from granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. The Trump administration has intensified scrutiny of higher-education diversity programs, expanding federal reviews to multiple UC campuses after the SFFA ruling.
Data & Statistics
- Admission odds: Black applicants – 5.8 × (2025) and 6.5 × (2024) higher odds than comparable white applicants (DOJ).
- LSAT gaps: Median LSAT for admitted Black students ? 167 (2025) versus 172 for white and Asian students (DOJ).
- Enrollment (Oct 2025): 1,128 law students – 516 White, 293 Asian, 51 Black, 130 Hispanic.
- Score distribution: 37 % of admitted Black applicants scored below the 99th percentile of admitted white applicants; 50 % scored below the 95th percentile (DOJ).
Official Statements & Responses
Dean Erwin Chemerinsky reiterated that “our admissions policy is clear that race is not considered in any way” and that Berkeley Law The DOJ’s civil-rights lead, **Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Berkeley Law School’s deliberate efforts to circumvent the Supreme Court’s decision in SFFA demonstrate a complete disregard for the rule of law,” — Assistant Attorney General Harmeet, said assistant attorney
- “Our admissions policy is clear that race is not considered in any way,” — Erwin Chemerinsky, law school dean
- “Title VI is clear: no student should be advantaged or disadvantaged in admissions because of the color of their skin,” — U.S. Department
- “If it’s presented with strong race neutral justifications, I think it’s much more likely to be allowed,” — Erwin Chemerinsky, law school dean
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact magnitude of the admission-odds disparity: the DOJ’s letter cites a 5.8 × advantage for Black applicants in 2025, while other filings mention a 6.5 × advantage in 2024. The findings also note that the statistical model used to calculate these odds was not disclosed, leaving the methodology opaque.
What’s Next
The DOJ is seeking a voluntary resolution agreement that would require Berkeley Law to modify its admissions and oversight practices. If negotiations fail, the department indicated it will file a lawsuit to enforce Title VI compliance. The university has pledged to continue providing evidence of compliance and to defend its admissions process against the federal allegations.
