The goal of the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Concentration is to increase the number of legal advocates in the field of civil rights and constitutional law. This goal is consistent with the Law School’s historical mission of preparing attorneys to represent underserved and under-represented segments of our community. Vestiges of racial discrimination as well as current racially-based discriminatory practices remain pervasive in all facets of our community, including education, housing, environmental justice, criminal justice, employment and economic advancement. It is incumbent upon the attorneys of today and tomorrow who stand on the shoulders of prior generations of civil rights attorneys, to continue the fight for justice and parity.
The requirements for the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Concentration are intended to ensure that students who receive a certificate in the program are well-versed in civil rights and constitutional law matters. Moreover, students must demonstrate a genuine interest in the field of civil rights and constitutional law through their involvement in a related pro bono placement or externship. In addition, participation in a civil rights conference is mandated with the expectation that students will have the opportunity to interface with, learn from, and be inspired by civil rights activists. Finally, students must complete their preparation for the certificate by critically and creatively analyzing a significant civil rights issue in a thought-provoking and well-written article of publishable quality.
REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CONCENTRATION:
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Students must complete each of these courses (5 credits):
____8131 Constitutional Law II (2)
____8210 Criminal Procedure (3)
Students must complete an additional eight (8) credits from the menu below:
____9020 Administrative Law (3)
____8240 Civil Rights (3)
____8001 Native American Law (3)
____8002 Aids and the Law (3)
____8021 Critical Race Theory Seminar (3)
____8712 Law and Humanities Seminar (2)
____8713 Sexual Identity and the Law (2)
____9010 Children and the Law (2)
____8711 Disability Law (3)
____9220 Employment Discrimination (3)
____9550 International Law (2)
____9529 Land Loss Law (2)
____8019 Race and the Law (3)
____9043 Women in the Law (2)
____9380 Employment Law (3)
____9018 Civil Rights and Politics (2)
____9046 Immigration Law (2)
____9572 Elder Law (2)
____8004 Environmental Law (3)
____9334 Wrongful Conviction (3)
1 Credit Hour in a Pro Bono Clinic or Externship involving a Civil Rights matter. Pro bono placements consistent with the doctrinal courses listed above will satisfy the “civil rights” requirement. These placements include children/juveniles, civil rights, criminal law defense, death penalty, disability services, education law, environmental justice, gay & lesbian rights, housing/landlord/tenant issues, immigrants’ rights, low-income clients, mental disability services, minority/low income landowners, prisoners’ rights, public benefits, public policy – advocacy, sentencing reform & wrongful conviction.
Students must also complete the following:
1. Write an article of publishable quality pertaining to a Civil Rights issue.
- The article must be submitted to the Director of Academic Support or the Advisor to the North Carolina Central University Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Society on or before the last Friday in January at 12:00 noon. NO ARTICLES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME.
- Articles may be submitted online via email or delivered as a hard copy.
- PERTAIN TO A CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE
- BE OF “PUBLISHABLE QUALITY” AND
- CONSIST OF A MINIMUM OF FIFTEEN (15) PAGES AND A MAXIMUM OF TWENTY-FIVE (25) PAGES
- Articles will be returned to students three weeks after the due date. Students whose articles are not approved will have the opportunity to resubmit their articles on or before the first Friday in March at 12:00 noon for a final read. NO ARTICLES WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and the students will be notified of the decision regarding the publishable quality of the article on or before the last Friday in March.
2. Attend a conference related to Civil Rights.
The determination of whether all requirements for the Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Concentration have been met for purposes of the issuance of a certificate will be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
|
