# DOJ investigation of UCLA Law admissions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/doj-investigation-of-ucla-law-admissions
> Updated: 2026-10-04T18:54:00.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused the UCLA School of Law of engaging in illegal race-based discrimination during its admissions processes for the 2023, 2024, and 2025 incoming classes. The DOJ alleges the institution violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and bypassed 2023 Supreme Court restrictions on affirmative action by using essay prompts and recruitment events to elicit racial information from applicants.

Investigators characterized the school’s approach as a “two-tiered admissions system” where academic standards shifted based on race. Specifically, the DOJ noted that in 2025, Black applicants had approximately seven times the admission odds of equivalent white applicants, while Hispanic applicants had about twice the odds. The department further alleged that admitted Black applicants often had lower average LSAT scores than their white counterparts.

UCLA School of Law has disputed these findings, asserting that its selection process is merit-based and complies with the U.S. Constitution and California’s Proposition 209.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-04: UCLA Law School accused of racial discrimination in admissions by DOJ

The DOJ has accused UCLA Law School of violating Supreme Court rulings by using race-based prompts to create a two-tiered admissions system that disadvantaged white and Asian applicants.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ucla-law-school-accused-of-racial-discrimination-in-admissions-by-doj

### 2026-10-01: UCLA Law accused of illegal race-based admissions by DOJ

The U.S. Justice Department found that UCLA Law illegally used race in admissions for the 2023-2025 classes, favoring Black and Hispanic applicants over white and Asian students.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ucla-law-school-found-to-have-illegally-used-race-in-admissions

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Cite as: DOJ investigation of UCLA Law admissions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/doj-investigation-of-ucla-law-admissions
