Graduation from an ABA-approved school is generally required for lawyers who wish to practice in the U.S.
The American Bar Association (ABA) provides continuing education, legal resources and law school accreditation, and serves as the accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). There are 200 ABA-approved law schools, of which five are provisionally approved as of February 2011. The accreditation process is an ongoing one that requires annual surveys and regular inspections.
The ABA and Accreditation
According to Title 34, Section 602 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Council and Accreditation Committee of the American Bar Association is recognized by the federal Department of Education (DOE) as the body that creates and enforces standards for law schools in the United States.
Provisional Approval
As of February 2011, five schools have been granted provisional approval by the ABA, allowing them to confer the Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree. Graduates of these schools may take the bar examination to be admitted to practice. Schools may apply for provisional approval after they have been open for a minimum of one year. The school must show that it is in "substantial compliance" with the ABA standards, and present a plan to be in full compliance within three years of gaining provisional approval. After an onsite check and several evaluations, the ABA's Council reviews the application and makes the final decision.
Full Approval
After being granted provisional approval, a school maintains that status for a minimum of three years, but no more than five. During this period, the school must become fully compliant with the rules and regulations in the ABA standards. It must be able to show that it is in full compliance and is likely to remain so. A school's progress is closely monitored by the ABA's Council throughout its provisional status.
Maintaining Full Approval
Newly-approved law schools are evaluated three years after receiving full approval and every seven years after that. Additionally, annual questionnaires must be submitted to the ABA for review. During evaluations, if the school is found in compliance, it remains on the fully approved list. If the school is deficient in an area, it may be placed on probation and is required to provide a plan for returning to full compliance. Continued deficiency may result in permanent removal.
Examples of ABA-Accredited Schools
The nation's 200 ABA-accredited law schools include public and private institutions from coast to coast. Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, New Jersey has an enrollment of approximately 600 full- and part-time students. Because Rutgers is a state-funded school, tuition is lower than at private institutions and residents of New Jersey are offered a sizable discount. Stanford University Law School in Stanford, California has an enrollment of 500 students. Because it is a private institution, no discount is offered for state residents. The University of Kansas School of Law is a publicly funded school that offers tuition discounts to state residents.
Tags: provisional approval, full compliance, three years, American Association, Department Education, February 2011