Drake Named a Top School in the Nation for Human Rights Law – Drake University Newsroom

Report on Drake University Law School’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals through Human Rights Law Education

Executive Summary

Drake University Law School has received an A+ ranking for its human rights law program, as reported in preLaw magazine’s Back to School 2025 issue. This recognition places the institution among the top twelve in the United States for this specialization. This achievement underscores the Law School’s significant contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in fostering justice, quality education, and strong global institutions.

Program Evaluation and Alignment with the 2030 Agenda

The ranking was determined by a comprehensive assessment of the school’s offerings that directly support the education of professionals dedicated to upholding principles central to the SDGs. The criteria included:

• Clinical Programs
• Specialized Certificates
• Externships and Practical Placements
• Institutional Partnerships
• A robust curriculum of human rights courses

These components provide students with the necessary skills to advance the global objectives of peace and justice.

Direct Contribution to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The core of Drake Law School’s human rights program is fundamentally aligned with SDG 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. Professor Hunter R. Clark noted the program’s emphasis on “respect for human dignity under the rule of law,” a foundational element of SDG Target 16.3 (Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all). By training legal experts in this field, Drake Law directly contributes to strengthening the institutions necessary for a just society.

Broader Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Beyond its primary focus on SDG 16, the human rights program has a cascading positive effect on several other interconnected goals:

1. SDG 4 (Quality Education): The program provides inclusive and equitable quality education in a field critical for promoting sustainable development. It equips learners with the knowledge and skills needed to promote human rights and global citizenship, directly supporting Target 4.7.
2. SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Human rights law is a primary vehicle for challenging systemic discrimination and advocating for the rights of women, girls, and marginalized communities, which is essential for achieving both SDG 5 and SDG 10.
3. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The evaluation’s inclusion of “partnerships” as a key criterion highlights the school’s commitment to collaborative efforts, reflecting the spirit of SDG 17, which calls for revitalizing global partnerships for sustainable development.

Conclusion

The A+ ranking awarded to Drake University Law School is a testament to its excellence in legal education and its role as a vital contributor to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The institution’s comprehensive human rights program is instrumental in developing future leaders committed to building a more peaceful, just, and sustainable world, in direct alignment with the principles of the SDGs.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The article directly addresses quality education by highlighting Drake University Law School’s “A+ ranking for human rights law.” This focus on the quality and specific content of an educational program aligns with the goal of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. The article specifies that the ranking is based on the school’s “offerings in human rights law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses,” which are all components of a comprehensive educational framework.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • This goal is central to the article’s theme. The focus on “human rights law” education is fundamental to building peaceful societies, providing access to justice, and creating strong institutions. The quote from Professor Hunter R. Clark emphasizes the importance of “advancing compassion, respect for human dignity under the rule of law, and good global citizenship,” which are core principles of SDG 16. Educating legal professionals in human rights is a direct contribution to strengthening the institutions that uphold justice and the rule of law.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 4.7 (under SDG 4)

   • Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for… human rights… global citizenship and promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence…”
   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions that Drake Law School provides education in “human rights law” and promotes “good global citizenship.” The description of its comprehensive offerings (“clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses”) demonstrates how the institution is equipping learners with the specific knowledge and skills outlined in this target.

2. Target 16.3 (under SDG 16)

   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.”
   • Explanation: The article directly connects to this target through the professor’s statement about the importance of advancing “respect for human dignity under the rule of law.” By training future lawyers in human rights, the law school is directly contributing to the promotion of the rule of law and building a legal workforce capable of ensuring access to justice.

3. Target 16.a (under SDG 16)

   • Target 16.a: “Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.”
   • Explanation: High-quality legal education is a primary method of building capacity within a nation’s justice system. By offering a top-ranked program in human rights law, Drake Law School is strengthening the capacity of legal institutions by producing highly skilled professionals. The mention of “partnerships” and “externships” suggests practical capacity-building efforts that support and strengthen these institutions.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 4.7

   • Indicator: The extent to which human rights and global citizenship education are mainstreamed into curricula.
   • Explanation: While the article does not cite a formal UN indicator, it provides qualitative data that serves as a proxy. The “A+ ranking” from preLaw magazine is a direct measure of the quality and comprehensiveness of the human rights curriculum. The article states the ranking is based on “offerings in human rights law, including clinical programs, certificates, externships, partnerships, and courses,” which indicates a high degree of mainstreaming of this subject within the institution’s curriculum.

2. Implied Indicator for Targets 16.3 and 16.a

   • Indicator: The quality and availability of specialized training for justice officials and legal professionals.
   • Explanation: Progress towards promoting the rule of law (16.3) and strengthening institutions (16.a) can be measured by the capacity of the people within those systems. The article’s focus on Drake Law School being “among the top twelve law schools in the nation for this field” serves as a qualitative indicator of the high-quality training available to future legal professionals. This high-level training is essential for building the capacity needed to uphold the rule of law and strengthen justice institutions.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.drake.edu