Widener Law Commonwealth among top schools with Black editors-in-chief of law journals
Widener University Commonwealth Law School is pleased to be included in a select group of law schools nationwide in electing Black editors-in-chief of their law reviews since 1926, according to extensive research compiled by Wake Forest University. The research, conducted by Wake Forest University law professor Gregory Parks, noted an increase since 2013 of flagship law journals promoting Black students to serve in top editor posts.
Widener University Commonwealth Law School has elected two Black editors-in chief: Rachel Hadrick, who served as editor-in-chief for Widener Commonwealth Law Review in 2011, and Jo-Anne Thompson, who served as editor-in-chief in 2017. Dean Michael Hussey said only 15 other law schools, including Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and New York University, have chosen two or more Black editors-in-chief to serve in this capacity since their inception. These highly coveted editor-in-chief positions can be instrumental in helping law students secure judicial clerkships and other legal career opportunities. Among notable Black editors-in-chief include former President Barack Obama, who was the first Black editor-in-chief of Harvard Law Review.
“We are beyond proud of Rachel and Jo-Anne’s accomplishments during their time at Widener Law Commonwealth, including their service as editors-in-chief of Widener Commonwealth Law Review, and we continue to be fortunate to have a high-achieving and diverse student body,” Hussey said. “We have a strong commitment toward promoting and maintaining diversity and inclusion, and that is certainly reflected in our current class, with 38 percent of our first-year students coming from a diverse background.”
Widener University is a metropolitan university that connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention, applied leadership, and experiential learning are key components of the Widener experience. Widener University Commonwealth Law School is the Pennsylvania capital’s only law school, with three specialized centers of legal scholarship through its Law & Government Institute, Environmental Law and Sustainability Center, and Business Advising Program. Widener Law Commonwealth offers an exceptional learning experience that is personal, practical, and professional.
