Professor April Dawson has been named a 2026 ABA Legal Rebel, a national honor from the American Bar Association recognizing individuals who are reshaping the legal profession through innovation and leadership.
The designation recognizes Dawson’s work at the intersection of legal education and technology, including her leadership in advancing national conversations around artificial intelligence, academic integrity and preparing law students for a technology-driven legal profession.
Dawson serves as associate dean of the NCCU Law and Technology Center, where she helps position the law school as a leader in technology-focused legal education. She guides the center’s programming, curriculum development and thought leadership focused on how emerging technologies are transforming legal practice and legal education.
Dawson has helped elevate NCCU Law’s national profile, particularly in areas involving artificial intelligence, ethical technology use and the future of legal training. The center serves as a hub for dialogue among legal educators, practitioners and students on the evolving role of technology in law and access to justice.
She has shared her expertise on platforms including LawNext, Aspen Leading Edge, the Kennedy-Mighell Report on Legal Talk Network and the Legal Eagle Review engaging audiences on how law schools can responsibly integrate technology while maintaining academic and professional standards.
The ABA Legal Rebels program honors attorneys, educators and legal professionals who challenge traditional approaches and help guide the profession forward. Dawson joins an accomplished group of honorees in the ABA Legal Rebels Class of 2026.