Justice Department finds UCLA law school illegally used race in admissions

The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday that the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) law school unlawfully utilized race as a factor in its admissions process. This revelation follows a similar finding made against the university’s medical school, and it comes amid the Trump administration’s intensified scrutiny of colleges’ applicant selection methods.

The administration has also accused the UC Berkeley Law School and the University of California, San Diego medical school of illegally discriminating against white and Asian applicants. UCLA's School of Law released a statement affirming its commitment to adhering to all relevant laws. It stated that students are admitted through a merit-based review process that evaluates each applicant’s achievements and experiences.

The Department of Justice’s investigation revealed that UCLA’s law school discriminated against white and Asian American students by favoring Black and Hispanic applicants in its 2023, 2024, and 2025 incoming classes. The analysis showed that admitted Black students had lower mean LSAT scores compared to admitted white students.

Furthermore, admissions staff at the law school directed applicants during recruitment efforts, including an event called the “Diversity Admissions Open House,” on how to disclose their race in essays.

Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, commented that UCLA Law School operates a two-tiered admissions system where the acceptance bar fluctuates based on an applicant's race. The Department’s investigation found that the school used race as a criterion in its admissions process, which is illegal under a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.

The ruling prohibited colleges from considering applicants' personal backgrounds in admissions decisions. However, the administration accused colleges of using applicants' essays and other proxies to consider race in admissions, which conservatives view as discriminatory.

California voters abolished affirmative action in college admissions through a 1997 ballot measure. In a brief filed with the Supreme Court, the University of California system argued that this change led to a significant decline in underrepresented minorities, particularly at its most selective campuses. The brief also stated that UC implemented various race-neutral measures to promote diversity.

The Trump administration has also filed a lawsuit against the main UCLA campus over allegations of antisemitic harassment. The latest finding by the Justice Department sets the stage for either a voluntary resolution to bring UCLA into compliance with the Department’s legal interpretation or potential legal action if no agreement is reached.