Justice Department Accuses UCLA Law of Discriminating Against Asian and White Applicants
Washington – The U.S. Justice Department has accused the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law of discriminating against Asian and white applicants in its admissions process, an allegation the university disputes.
The department’s Civil Rights Division said its investigation found that UCLA Law used race in admissions decisions for its incoming classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025, allegedly violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling restricting race-conscious college admissions.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who heads the Civil Rights Division, alleged that UCLA Law operated a two-tiered admissions system in which academic standards varied depending on applicants’ race.
“The use of race as a thumb on the scale that helps or disadvantages any student is illegal,” Dhillon said, adding that the department would continue enforcing equal treatment under federal law.
UCLA Law disputed the allegations and defended its admissions procedures.
“UCLA School of Law is committed to making admissions decisions in compliance with all applicable laws, including the California Constitution and Proposition 209, federal statutes, and the US Constitution,” the school said in a statement Thursday.
The university said applicants undergo a comprehensive, merit-based review that considers their achievements and experiences, expressing confidence in its admissions process.
The Justice Department said its investigation examined admissions practices following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which restricted the consideration of race in higher education admissions.
Investigators alleged that UCLA Law’s application included personal statements and essay prompts designed to encourage applicants to disclose their race. The department also claimed that admissions staff advised prospective students on how to include racial information in their applications during recruitment events, including the school’s annual Diversity Admissions Open House.
According to the department, its analysis found that UCLA rejected Asian and white applicants whose Law School Admission Test scores matched those of Black and Hispanic applicants who were admitted.
The department further claimed that, during the combined 2024 and 2025 admissions cycles, half of admitted Black applicants had LSAT scores at or below those of 90% of admitted white applicants.
UCLA maintained that admissions decisions are based on a comprehensive evaluation rather than any single academic measure.
The Justice Department said federally funded law schools must comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. It indicated that it would seek negotiated settlements when violations are identified and pursue litigation if those efforts fail. (Source: IANS)
