According to Thyquel Halley, a Newark resident and first-year law student, one of the most appealing programs at Rutgers Law School is the Minority Student Program. The development of the program was a direct response to the Newark riots of 1967 and it serves to unite minorities in the legal field to overcome barriers.
Halley is currently the administrative and communications coordinator at the Humanities Action Lab (HAL) of Rutgers University-Newark, which he says provides him “the privilege of being part of an office that serves as a critical nexus for social justice activism and education.” He believes HAL has a special significance. “Being housed in Newark is more than just a geographic placement, it is a deliberate choice that roots our work in a city that has long been a crucible for social justice. Newark’s history of resistance against oppression fuels our mission, infusing our efforts with a sense of urgency and purpose.”
Rutgers Law School, holding the esteem of being one of the most diverse law schools in the country, is one of two law schools located in New Jersey. The Rutgers Law School exists on two campuses, with one in Newark and the other in Camden.
Seton Hall Law School, the only other law school in New Jersey, is conveniently located just one-and-a-half blocks from Newark Penn Station. As the only private law school in New Jersey, Seton Hall holds a distinguished place in the top third of law schools in the nation. According to the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings, Seton Hall Law School comes in at #61 out of the 196 ABA Accredited law schools chosen for consideration. —Mahima Aktar
