By Neil Offen

noffen@heraldsun.com; 419-6646

DURHAM -- The N.C. Central University School of Law won't be joining the prestigious Association of American Law Schools -- at least not now.

The association has postponed the vote on the school's application for membership, said law school Dean Raymond Pierce, citing the need for more published scholarly work from NCCU's law faculty.

"The association clearly recognizes the momentum of our school, but they still would like to see some more publications," Pierce said Tuesday. "We have a good bounty of works in progress, and we are pretty confident that in the spring of next year -- in five or six months -- they ultimately will look favorably on our application."

Susan Westerberg Prager, the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based group, said that the association's practice is not to comment directly on any membership applications or reviews.

But, she said, apart from this process, "I have the sense that North Carolina Central University and its law school have made great progress in recent years. As someone who lived in the area, I've followed its progress with a special appreciation. I know the people of the area feel tremendous pride in what's being accomplished there."

Pierce acknowledged that he was "a little" disappointed in the association's postponement decision because "we were very hopeful." He had acknowledged that the school did not yet have the level and quantity of legal scholarship of more established law schools, yet was optimistic because of NCCU's upward trajectory.

But he also recognized that the school "was aiming high" in trying at this time to join the nation's primary organization for legal scholars.

The AALS works with the federal government, other national higher education organizations, professional and academic societies, and international law schools. If accepted for membership, NCCU's law school would have been the first historically black public institution to join the AALS, which has more than 170 members, including such legal heavyweights as Harvard, Yale and Stanford.

Come spring, the school will not have to begin a new application or submit any more large files or welcome another visit from association officials, Pierce said.

"All that we have to do," he added, "is simply move some works in progress to published works. I am strongly confident we can do that."