Freeriders and Diversity In the Legal Academy

Ediberto Roman, Florida International University College of Law
Christopher Carbot, Florida International University College of Law

Abstract

Diversity is a bedrock principle of the legal academy. American law schools have accordingly adopted the principle by virtue of their membership in the professional accrediting organizations of the American Bar Association(ABA) and the American Association of Law Schools(AALS). This article uses empirical analysis as well as microeconomic theory to demonstrate that despite the above pronouncements, one half of American law schools have failed to fully integrate and are thus not abiding by their commitments to the ABA and AALS.