Fifteen years ago, Maryland's four HBCUs --Coppin State, Bowie State, Morgan State, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore fought against systemic underfunding by filing a lawsuit against the state. The universities, represented by the Kirkland & Ellis law firm, eventually settled earlier this year, as Blavity previously reported . Resultingly, the HBCUs were granted an extra $57.7 million in yearly funding to share amongst themselves, with payments set to begin in 2023 and continue until 2033. In Maryland's settlement, the state agreed to cough up $22 million in legal fees, with $12.5 million earmarked explicitly for Kirkland & Ellis. The remaining $9.5 million went towards the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law . — However, because the law firm represented the universities on a pro bono basis, the $12.5 million is being donated and put towards HBCU student organizations, T he Baltimore Sun reported . Photo credit: Sarah Pflug Of Kirkland & Ellis'...
