Charles Lawrence was born in 1943 in New York to Margaret (child psychiatrist and psychoanalyst) and Charles Lawrence II (sociologist) and reared with his sisters Sara Lawrence Lightfoot (sociologist) and Rev. Paula Lawrence-Wehmiller (educator and author). Lawrence graduated in 1965 with a BA degree from Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and received a JD Degree at Yale Law School in 1969.

From 1969-1970 Lawrence served as an attorney and research associate at Harvard Center for Law and Education while serving as an assistant professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. From 1970 to 1972, he served as the director and principal of the Highland Park Free School in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1972, he joined Public Advocates in San Francisco, California, as a senior attorney, while also teaching law at the University of San Francisco School of Law from 1974 to 1986. He later held visiting professor positions at Harvard Law School (1979–1980), the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (1981–1982), and UCLA School of Law in 1986. In 1986 to 1993 he became a tenured professor at Stanford Law School and at Georgetown University Law Center, from 1993 to 2012. Lawrence also served as a visiting professor at the University of Southern California Gould School of Law from 1991-1992, and at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa from 2004-2005. He then became fulltime faculty at the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2008 where he served as a Centennial University Professor of Law. He taught Constitutional Law, Law and Literature, and Race and Culture courses, and Advanced Legal Studies. In 2022 he became the Professor of Law Emeritus at the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i Mānoa.

Lawrence is best known for his powerful work in antidiscrimination law, equal protection, critical race theory, civil rights, and social activism. His work prompted reformulations of anti-discrimination laws in numerous jurisdictions. His work in antidiscrimination law and critical race theory has been influential in arenas of racist hate speech, affirmative action, and education law.

Throughout his career, Lawrence specialized in antidiscrimination, equal protection, and critical race theory. He co-author three books including: The Bakke Case: The Politics of Inequality (1979), Words That Wound: Critical Race Theory, Assaultive Speech, and The First Amendment (1993). As Well as We Won't Go Back: Making the Case for Affirmative Action (1997), co-authored by his wife Professor Mari Matsuda who also specializes in critical race theory and civil rights law. He also wrote multiple chapters in various publications.

Lawrence received numerous awards including the University of San Francisco School of Lawʻs “Most Distinguished Professor” Award in 1978, The John Bingham Hurlburt Award for “Excellence in Teaching”, and the Society of American Law Teachers “Outstanding Teacher” Award in 2003, as well as the National Black Law Studentsʻ Associationʻs “Paul Robeson Service Award”, and the “Outstanding Contribution Award” from the National Black Police Association. He was awarded honorary doctorates from Haverford College in 2000, Georgetown University Law Center in 2017, and Nelson Mandela University in 2019.

Sources: “Charles R. Lawrence III’s Biography.” The HistoryMakers, www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/charles-r-lawrence-iii. Steven. “Charles R. Lawrence, III - University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.” University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law -, 20 July 2023, law.hawaii.edu/people/charles-r-lawrence-iii/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

“Charles Lawrence 2019.” Nelson Mandela University, 2019, www.mandela.ac.za/Leadership-and-Governance/Honorary-Doctorates/Charles-Lawrence-2019. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

“Charles Lawrence 2019.” Nelson Mandela University, 2019, www.mandela.ac.za/Leadership-and-Governance/Honorary-Doctorates/Charles-Lawrence-2019. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.

Steven. “Charles R. Lawrence, III - University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law.” University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law -, 20 July 2023, law.hawaii.edu/people/charles-r-lawrence-iii/. Accessed 16 Jan. 2025.