Diversity & Inclusion

1L Peer Advisors

All first-year students are assigned peer advisors, who are upper-level students. These groups are small and include students from the same 1L section. Groups meet periodically during the year to provide support during the transition into law school. Peer advisors give advice on various topics such as adjusting to law school, preparing for final exams, getting involved in campus life, and selecting courses after the first year.

Academic Fellows

All first-year students are also assigned academic fellows who are upper-level students. These groups are small and include students from the same 1L section, as well. They provide guidance on briefing cases, outlining, preparing for final exams, and more.

Academic Advisor

Each incoming student is also assigned an academic advisor, often from a program of interest. This advisor is a faculty member at Maryland Carey Law and will serve as a mentor for the incoming student. 

Disability Support Services

The UMB Office of Educational Support and Disability Services (ESDS) coordinates services to assist students and applicants with disabilities in obtaining reasonable accommodations through an interactive process involving the student and the school. The School of Law is governed by the disability and non-discrimination policies and procedures of the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB).

Aberdeen: Comparative Civil Rights

Aberdeen: Comparative Human Rights

Access to Justice Clinic: Effective Assistance of Counsel at Bail

Capital Punishment Seminar

Citizenship Seminar

Civil Rights of Persons With Disabilities Clinic

Comparative Constitutional Democracy Colloquium

Comparative Jurisprudence Seminar: Transcultural Perspectives on the World's Legal Systems

Criminal Defense Clinic

Criminal Law Seminar: Race and Criminal Justice System

Domestic Violence and the Law Seminar

Economic Justice: Race and Markets Seminar

Employment Discrimination Law

Environmental Justice, Human Rights, and Public Health

Fair Housing Clinic

Fair Housing Seminar

Families With Special Needs Children Seminar

Gender and the Law Seminar

Gender Violence Clinic

Health and International Human Rights Seminar

Human Rights in US Law: Legal Theory and Practice

Immigration Clinic

Immigration Policy Seminar

International Human Rights Seminar

JustAdvice Project

Justice for Victims of Crime Clinic

Juvenile Lifer Advocacy Clinic

Low Income Taxpayer Clinic

Mental Disability and Criminal Law Seminar

Opioid Epidemic: Law and Policy Seminar

Policing, Communities and Law Seminar

Post-conflict and Transitional Justice Seminar

Practicing Law in Spanish

Public Health and the Law

Public Health Law Clinic

Race and the Law Seminar: The Maryland Experience

Race, Technology and the Law Seminar

Restorative Justice

Restorative Justice & Sexual Assault Theory

Sentencing Reform Seminar

Sexual Violence and Harassment in Education

Sexuality and the Law Seminar

Small Business and Community Equity Development Clinic

South Africa Externship

South Africa: Race and Law Seminar

Thurgood Marshall Seminar

Women, Leadership and Equality Externship

Women, Leadership and Equality Zetzer Fellows Workshop

Youth, Education and Justice Clinic

Diversity & Inclusion Scholars

In 2017, we launched the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship Program in partnership with four law firms – DLA Piper; Gallagher, Evelius & Jones; Miles & Stockbridge; and Pessin Katz Law – that share our commitment to a diverse and vibrant legal community. Since launching we have welcomed six additional partners - Gordon Feinblatt; T. Rowe Price; Deloitte; Brown Advisory; Semmes, Bowen & Semmes; and Saul Ewing.

The program’s centerpiece is an endowed scholarship fund created through the generous support of our partners, along with matching funds from the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation and investment from the School of Law. Each year, approximately 15 incoming students who contribute to the diversity of Maryland Carey Law are selected to be part of the program and receive scholarship support. Diversity Scholars must have demonstrated leadership and an ability to overcome challenges to their professional values and career goals.

While the endowed scholarship is the program’s cornerstone, the initiative takes a broad approach aimed at promoting and fostering diversity and inclusion at the School of Law. In conjunction with the School of Law’s Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, the program is advised by a committee on diversity and inclusion, consisting of representatives from the partners. The committee facilitates and participates in mentorship programs and opportunities for student scholars to interact with the legal community, including for example:

• Individual mentoring from attorneys whose firms are part of the Initiative
• Firm-hosted networking events, lunches, or happy hours
• Inviting scholars to attend events in the Baltimore legal community, such as bar association meetings, networking receptions, etc.
• Law school diversity programing
• Mock interviewing and other skills-building exercises

These opportunities help the students with their networking skills, but also in their ability to create a connection to Baltimore.

Diversity Scholars enter the program as a community of scholars and have opportunities inside and out of the classroom to develop a sense of community and belonging. The scholars also participate in other social and networking events to build a sense of unity and community. While academic paths may diverge in the 2L and 3L years, the program is designed in a way that involves upper-class scholars (as mentors, role models, and advisors) throughout their time at Maryland Carey Law.

We have graduated a total of 52 students from the program since the first cohort graduated in the Spring of 2020 and have welcomed a total of 97 scholars to the program.

Cummings Scholarship

Established in 2019, The Honorable Elijah E. Cummings Scholarship pays tribute to Congressman Cummings, his many contributions to society, and his standing as one of Maryland Carey Law's most distinguished alumni. Created and endowed by the Maryland Carey Law Board of Visitors, this scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate an interest in public service, a strong record of academic excellence, and financial need.  Congressman Cummings was a leader both locally and nationally, and this scholarship aims to empower law students to become leaders in the legal community.  The scholarship was awarded for the first time in 2020.  Learn more about the scholarship here. 

Rose Zetzer Fellows

Named for the first woman admitted to the Maryland State Bar Association, the WLE’s Rose Zetzer Fellowship program integrates theory and practice to prepare students for success in leadership positions in law, business, government, nonprofits, and the judiciary.

The fellowship combines leadership experience with a workshop focused on topics including personal negotiation, communication, strategic career planning, business development, fundraising, and organizational behavior and dynamics. Fellows also have the opportunity to meet prominent women lawyers in leadership roles who share their perspectives on the pressures, obstacles, and dilemmas they faced in achieving their positions.