Accreditation & Standards

Stanford tops latest US News law school rankings, while Yale slips to second place

Stanford Law School maintained its top spot in U.S. News & World Report's 2026 rankings of best law schools, as Yale Law School dropped to No. 2, now sharing that spot with the University of Chicago Law School, which moved up a notch.

Apr 7, 2026 12:01 AM CDT

Florida’s move to end ABA council as state’s sole law school accreditor applauded by FTC

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sent a 14-page letter to the Florida Supreme Court to “applaud the amendment” that would end the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar’s status as the state’s sole law school accreditor.

Apr 1, 2026 2:44 PM CDT

California considers mandatory AI training for law students

California’s 25 state-accredited and unaccredited law schools could be mandated to train their students how to responsibly use artificial intelligence if a proposal under discussion by the State Bar of California’s Committee of Bar Examiners moves forward.

Mar 20, 2026 11:07 AM CDT

2 law schools get nod from ABA Legal Ed council

Two law schools each received the blessing of the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar last month.

Mar 17, 2026 1:20 PM CDT

New Mexico, Connecticut consider new pathways to licensure

New Mexico and Connecticut are the latest states to consider alternative pathways to bar licensure, a move that would potentially expand access to legal services statewide.

Mar 3, 2026 12:39 PM CST

11 law school deans oppose proposal to speed up approval process for accreditation changes

Deans at 11 law schools have argued the council for the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar should not approve a proposal that would speed up the process of revising or creating new accreditation standards.

Feb 26, 2026 2:26 PM CST

Legal Ed council moves forward proposals to end diversity standard, allow alternative bar pathways

The council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has voted to move forward and seek public comment on two hot-button topics—one proposal to repeal its diversity, equity and inclusion mandate and another to permit alternative pathways to licensure.

Feb 23, 2026 9:52 AM CST

Top judicial officials form workgroup studying law school accreditation

As the path forward for law school accreditation is reconsidered in several states, a group of chief justices and court administrators launched a workgroup this week to dig deep into accreditation, including the role of the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Feb 19, 2026 11:26 AM CST

ABA Legal Ed council will consider including alternative pathways to bar in accreditation standards

As alternative pathways to licensure emerge around the country, the standards committee of the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is suggesting revisions to law school accreditation standards to recognize the growing popularity of methods beyond taking an exam to join the bar.

Feb 18, 2026 12:31 PM CST

After cheating scandal, LSAT moves to in-center testing this summer

The Law School Admission Test will move toward in-center testing in the United States and internationally starting in August.

Feb 12, 2026 9:21 AM CST

Will Utah gain third law school? State’s population growth cited as driving need for more lawyers

The Utah legislature is conducting a feasibility study for establishing the state’s third law school—at the Utah Valley University—according to KSL.com.

Feb 2, 2026 9:39 AM CST

Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law back in compliance with ABA standard

The Inter American University of Puerto Rico School of Law is no longer on probation, has returned to compliance and remains an accredited law school, according to a Jan. 26 post on the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar’s website.

Jan 28, 2026 1:49 PM CST

Independent law schools seek backup accreditor as ABA Legal Ed council is under review

Independent law schools are scrambling to make sure their students can continue to access student loans as the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar’s council’s accrediting powers are reviewed by the U.S. Department of Education.

Jan 26, 2026 12:21 PM CST

Should California create its own bar exam? Bar leaders weigh in

Despite California’s troubled attempt at launching its own bar exam last February, about half of the state’s bar leaders prefer a plan to create a California-specific test in the long term and use Kaplan to develop a “bridge” exam in the short term over administering the new exam created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, a new survey shows.

Jan 23, 2026 1:20 PM CST

New deans led nearly one-quarter of law schools in 2025

Almost 25% of accredited law schools were led by a new dean in 2025, according to Law.com.

Jan 21, 2026 9:45 AM CST