The School of Law held its annual Minority Law Day event Friday to encourage diversity in the profession.
Only one in every 25 lawyers is a minority, said Michael States, dean of admission for the law school.
"When people see that number, it can be very discouraging, but we're here to tell them the profession is open to everyone," he said.
About 70 law school hopefuls gathered for admissions information, speeches and meals at Friday's event. They listened to an alumni panel, learned how to finance a legal education and met with students.
Interested students attend to get a better understanding of UNC's atmosphere, law student Michelle Greene said. She and Taiyyabu Quershi, a student ambassador for the law school, went to the event last year. Both said it helped convince them to apply to the law school at UNC.
The event has been held annually for about 30 years.
States said that having students from other races, religions, political ideologies and socioeconomic classes adds to the educational experience for all students.
"When you're out in the profession, clients are going to come in every ethnicity," he said. "When we have students from different backgrounds and life experiences, they add a different perspective to the classroom discussions."
He said that the percentage of students in the law school who define themselves as black, Asian, American Indian or Hispanic has recently been in the 24 percent to 36 percent range.
"UNC is very diverse already," Quershi said. "I think the fact that the law school even holds a minority law day just reflects that dedication to diversity."
Other schools at UNC have their own methods to attract minorities.
UNC's School of Medicine has a lecture every year by an African-American graduate student, Associate Dean of Admissions Axalla Hoole said.
But the School of Journalism and Mass Communication tries to provide information informally.
Diversity information is primarily found on its Web site, and student groups such as the Carolina Association of Black Journalists often have service projects to encourage minority interest, said Dulcie Straughan, senior associate dean of the journalism school.
At the end of last semester, 17.2 percent of journalism majors were minorities, she said.
And according to the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, 29 percent of the students enrolled at UNC in 2007 were minorities.
States said the overall goal of the law school's event was to increase minority enrollment in all law schools.
"It's good for people to come to this event and see someone who looks like them," Greene said.
States said the law school's event accomplished its goal.
"If the information you get here results in you getting into a law school somewhere, I think we've been successful."
Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
