Thank you for visiting the Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy web-site. The Institute was established in 1992 by Professor Marcia Johnson as a research and writing think tank at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Since that time the Institute has grown to include the Institute for Trial Advocacy, the Government Law Center, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, The Innocence Projects of Texas Southern University and numerous special projects and programs.

Our Mission:

To enhance the ability of future leaders to advocate, educate and promote equity through research focused on social and legal policy, through and interdisciplinary approach.

Our Vision:

To educate public policymakers and the community in a way that improves the quality of life throughout traditionally under represented communities, with the ultimate goal of contributing to positive change and increasing consciousness throughout the world.

Our Core Beliefs Are:

• We believe that by promoting excellence in education we can create future leaders who will advance social justice in a broad scale.

• We believe that advancements in community representation must include a service delivery component to address the needs of individual citizens.

• We believe that significant research can contribute to changes in public policy.

• We believe that we can contribute to political dialogue by contributing high quality research that enhances public policy discussions of elected officials.

• We believe in an interdisciplinary approach to educating students to become excellent lawyers and future leaders.

• We believe that accessibility fosters an environment that promotes equality for traditionally underserved populations.

• We believe that the Earl Carl Institute should have a significant role in facilitating awareness that contributes to the advancement of civil rights in a variety of community issues.