The Earl Carl Institute for Legal and Social Policy, Inc. was established in 1992 by Professor Marcia Johnson as a research and writing think tank at the law school. It is a non-profit corporation exempt from taxation pursuant to §501(c)(3), of the Internal Revenue Code.

The Institute was named in honor of Professor Earl Carl, a founding faculty member of the law school. Professor Carl, blind from an early age, graduated from Fisk University before going on to earn his law degree from Yale University Law School. He is a human symbol that people can accomplish whatever they are willing to despite all odds.

The Earl Carl Institute serves as an advocacy organization, which seeks to identify, address and offer solutions to issues that affect traditionally urban and disenfranchised communities. The Institute is specifically designed to provide resources to train Thurgood Marshall students in legal advocacy and enhance their research and writing skills. Through the students’ research, position papers and other publications, the Institute promotes civil and human rights. The Institute’s mission is to help solve the legal and social problems facing the urban community through scholarship and advocacy.

The research and writing component of the institute began in 1992. The purpose of the program is twofold. First it was designed to help Thurgood Marshall law students develop and enhance their research and writing skills through hands on research projects. Second, the program sought to have the students work published in law reviews and law journals.

The Institute employs, on average, six students each semester including the summer semester who are assigned to this program.