ABA Journal

Accreditation & Standards

103 ABA Journal Accreditation & Standards articles.

New law school targeting part-time students planned for Charlotte, North Carolina

Elon University plans to open a part-time, in-person law school in Charlotte, North Carolina, after the only other law school operating in the city was forced to shut down in 2017.

Oregon and Kentucky law schools are back in compliance, ABA Legal Ed Section says

The University of Oregon School of Law and the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law have demonstrated compliance with accreditation standards, according to the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Up to $2.1 million in student aid improperly disbursed for LLMs, Education Department says

Five stand-alone, ABA-accredited law schools recently entered settlement agreements with the U.S. Department of Education for disbursing federal aid to LLM students without the necessary accreditation.

If law schools prohibit ChatGPT in writing, can they back it up?

Using artificial intelligence to write admissions essays now comes with significant risks at the University of Michigan Law School, which recently asked applicants to certify that they did not use the technology for drafting purposes.

1 of 3 law schools dinged for diversity standard demonstrates compliance

The Baylor University School of Law has demonstrated compliance with an accreditation standard requiring that schools demonstrate “concrete action” showing a commitment to having a diverse and inclusive faculty and staff, according to an ABA notice posted Tuesday.

New law school launches with small class but big expectations

The Wilmington University School of Law, the nation’s newest law school, started classes Monday with just 20 students.

To what extent could law school libraries be digital? ABA Legal Ed Section seeks public comment

Proposed revisions to law school library accreditation standards, including language stating that physical books might not be necessary, were approved for notice and comment Friday by the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Professors, administrators and counsel applaud proposed ABA standard on academic freedom

Following various controversies around campus speech and a U.S. House of Representatives committee request to investigate a Stanford Law School incident, the Strategic Review Committee of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has proposed a new accreditation standard focused on guidance for academic freedom policies.

Bar admission should not be denied just on basis of immigration status, ABA House urges

On Monday, the ABA House of Delegates at the ABA Annual Meeting in Denver approved Resolution 519, which urges legislative bodies to ensure that bar admission is not denied solely because of immigration status.

ABA executive described as ‘accessible’ and ‘real resource’ for law deans set to retire next spring

Bill Adams, a former attorney for the Legal Services Corp. and a law school dean who helped guide schools through the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced that he will be retiring as the ABA’s managing director for accreditation and legal education.

‘Significant noncompliance’ in admissions standard for Pontifical Catholic found by ABA Legal Ed council

The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico School of Law is out of compliance with an accreditation standard involving admissions, according to a notice posted Wednesday by the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Plans for cutting admissions test requirement paused by ABA Legal Ed council

After receiving letters from various law school deans with concerns about cutting the Law School Admission Test requirement, the council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar on Friday walked back plans to go forward with the proposal in August.

Following methodology changes for US News rankings, 7 law schools reach top 100

With more weight now given to law school employment outcomes and first-time bar passage rates in U.S. News & World Report’s best graduate schools rankings, there was little movement among the top 10. But 14 schools outside that grouping saw significant position increases, the publication reports.

Why are US News law school rankings delayed?

Updated: Following “an unprecedented number of inquiries from schools,” the release of U.S. News & World Report’s best graduate schools rankings, which include law schools, was pushed back twice in the past week.

Yale Law keeps top place in US News rankings preview—but it is tied with another school

Yale Law School and Stanford Law School are tied for first place in a preview of refashioned rankings released Tuesday by U.S. News & World Report.

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