Noted Lawyer and Civil Rights Leader. Born in rural Montgomery County, NC, he encountered much discrimination as a child and resolved to have a career in law to fight racial discrimination. After graduating high school in 1954, he graduated summa cum laude from NC Central University in 1958 with a degree in history, serving as student body president. He completed a master's degree in history at the University of Michigan in 1959. He then entered law school at the University of North Carolina, where he graduated first in his class and was the first African-American Editor in chief of the school law review. He earned his LLM from Columbia University Law School in 1964.
Beginning a solo law practice in Charlotte in 1964, his firm soon became the first integrated law firm in North Carolina. His firm successfully litigated important cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1971, Griggs v. Duke Power Company in 1971, and Albemarle Paper Company v. Moody in 1975. Chambers became chief executive of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York in 1984, serving until 1993. He then became Chancellor of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, serving until 2001. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School, University of Virginia Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Columbia University Law School, and University of Michigan Law School.
He married Vivian Giles. They had a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren.
Beginning a solo law practice in Charlotte in 1964, his firm soon became the first integrated law firm in North Carolina. His firm successfully litigated important cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1971, Griggs v. Duke Power Company in 1971, and Albemarle Paper Company v. Moody in 1975. Chambers became chief executive of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York in 1984, serving until 1993. He then became Chancellor of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, serving until 2001. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School, University of Virginia Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Columbia University Law School, and University of Michigan Law School.
He married Vivian Giles. They had a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren.
Noted Lawyer and Civil Rights Leader. Born in rural Montgomery County, NC, he encountered much discrimination as a child and resolved to have a career in law to fight racial discrimination. After graduating high school in 1954, he graduated summa cum laude from NC Central University in 1958 with a degree in history, serving as student body president. He completed a master's degree in history at the University of Michigan in 1959. He then entered law school at the University of North Carolina, where he graduated first in his class and was the first African-American Editor in chief of the school law review. He earned his LLM from Columbia University Law School in 1964.
Beginning a solo law practice in Charlotte in 1964, his firm soon became the first integrated law firm in North Carolina. His firm successfully litigated important cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1971, Griggs v. Duke Power Company in 1971, and Albemarle Paper Company v. Moody in 1975. Chambers became chief executive of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York in 1984, serving until 1993. He then became Chancellor of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, serving until 2001. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School, University of Virginia Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Columbia University Law School, and University of Michigan Law School.
He married Vivian Giles. They had a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren.
Beginning a solo law practice in Charlotte in 1964, his firm soon became the first integrated law firm in North Carolina. His firm successfully litigated important cases before the U.S. Supreme Court: Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education in 1971, Griggs v. Duke Power Company in 1971, and Albemarle Paper Company v. Moody in 1975. Chambers became chief executive of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in New York in 1984, serving until 1993. He then became Chancellor of his alma mater, North Carolina Central University, serving until 2001. He also served as an Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School, University of Virginia Law School, University of Pennsylvania Law School, Columbia University Law School, and University of Michigan Law School.
He married Vivian Giles. They had a son and daughter and 3 grandchildren.
Bio by: Susan I. Grills
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