The Justice Department announced Thursday that UCLA Law School’s admissions process unlawfully factored race, systematically giving preference to Black and Hispanic applicants in its 2023, 2024 and 2025 classes while sidelining white and Asian competitors. New data revealed the mean LSAT score of admitted Black students was lower than that of admitted white students, a clear sign of disparate treatment.
Harmeet Dhillon, head of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, stated, “Like many of its peer institutions, UCLA Law runs a two‑tiered admissions system whose academic bar for acceptance shifts up or down depending on the color of your skin.” The department also cited admissions staff instructions that encouraged applicants to disclose race in essays during recruitment events such as the “Diversity Admissions Open House.”
UCLA Law responded that it adheres to a comprehensive, merit‑based review, claiming confidence in its process. The school emphasized its commitment to compliance with all applicable laws.
The ruling follows a 2023 Supreme Court decision that struck down affirmative action in college admissions, though it allows institutions to consider applicants’ backgrounds in a broader context. The DOJ’s findings set the stage for a voluntary resolution or, failing that, legal action to enforce compliance. A final decision on the court’s next steps will be announced after the administration reviews the proposed remedies.