The Department of Justice, together with the Department of Education, has levied serious accusations against the University of California, Berkeley School of Law. On Wednesday, they charged that the institution has been engaging in discriminatory practices against white and Asian applicants by unfairly favoring Black candidates. This, they claim, breaches Title VI and contradicts the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in *Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard*.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon criticized the law school for what she described as "a complete disregard for the rule of law." This statement comes amidst ongoing debates about the role of race in college admissions and the broader implications of the Supreme Court's rulings on such matters.

However, a closer examination of the school's recent enrollment figures tells a different story. In October 2025, Berkeley Law reported having 1,128 students, with 516 identifying as white and 293 as Asian. The number of Black students enrolled was just 51. This statistic raises questions about the extent and effectiveness of any alleged "favoritism" toward Black applicants.

The government highlighted that in 2025, Black applicants were "5.8 times more likely to gain admission than their comparable white counterparts." Yet, the use of the term "comparable" is heavily reliant on LSAT scores, wherein about half of the admitted Black students scored lower than 95 percent of their admitted white peers. It's important to note that holistic admissions policies, which consider a range of factors beyond standardized test scores, remain legal and are widely practiced.

Dean Erwin Chemerinsky of Berkeley Law has strongly refuted claims that the school considers race in its admissions process. He emphasized the institution’s commitment to diversity within the legal bounds, stating, "UC Berkeley is committed to ensuring that every student is admitted based on their merit, and not on their race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin."

This controversy is part of a broader push by the current administration against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Previously, the administration has threatened legal education bodies and other institutions for their DEI efforts, including attempts to influence the American Bar Association’s accreditation standards and targeting law firms’ diversity policies.

Despite these pressures, Berkeley Law, like a few other institutions, has shown resilience in upholding its values and policies. This ongoing saga not only highlights the complexities of law school admissions but also reflects broader national conflicts over race, merit, and the meaning of equal opportunity in education.