History
The David A. Clarke School of Law evolved from two predecessor schools: the Antioch School of Law and the District of Columbia School of Law. Antioch School of Law was created in 1972 by Edgar S. and Jean Camper Cahn, who were instrumental in creating the federal Legal Services Corporation and who, generally, championed the rights of low-income people and minorities. The School was also committed to training public interest lawyers and pioneered a comprehensive law clinic education model adopted now, in small part at least, in nearly every law school in the country.
After Antioch University decided to close many of its units around the country, in 1986 the Council of the District of Columbia passed legislation that established the District of Columbia School of Law (DCSL) to retain Antioch School of Law's mission, curriculum, clinical programs, and personnel for the benefit of the District of Columbia. The School was awarded provisional American Bar Association accreditation in 1991 and rapidly grew to nearly 300 students.
In 1996, the Council of the District of Columbia passed legislation merging the School of Law with the University of the District of Columbia. On April 28, 1998, President Clinton signed legislation renaming the School of Law. The new University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL) is named after former D.C. Council Chair David A. Clarke, a civil rights and humanitarian leader and who ardently advocated for the School of Law's educational, diversity, and public service missions.
In 1998, a new grant of provisional ABA accreditation was awarded to the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, and in 2004, the School of Law applied for full accreditation. The School of Law received full ABA accreditation on August 8, 2005 with a unanimous vote of the ABA House of Delegates.
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