Latest news with #ABA-accredited
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Texas may cut ties with ABA, But at what cost to future lawyers?
For decades, a law degree from a Texas institution carried with it a silent promise, that its holder could walk into a courtroom not just in Dallas or Houston, but in any state across the country. That promise, anchored by American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation, now stands on shaky ground. The Texas Supreme Court is reconsidering a rule that, since 1983, has required aspiring attorneys to graduate from an ABA-accredited law school in order to take the state's bar exam. What began as a procedural review has evolved into a high-stakes debate over legal standards, political ideology, and the portability of professional degrees in a fractured nation. At the heart of the issue lies a fundamental question: Should one state's skepticism of a national institution be allowed to redraw the career trajectories of thousands of future lawyers? A rule under siege The review was initiated by the Texas Supreme Court in April, weeks after Florida launched a similar move questioning ABA authority. The Florida Supreme Court, made up entirely of Republican appointees, pointed to concerns over the ABA's now-paused diversity mandate and its 'active political engagement' as reasons to reconsider the group's role in legal education. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Get ₹2Cr life cover@ ₹700 p.m. ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo Texas, where all elected judges are Republican, has signaled a similar wariness. The court has yet to announce any final decision or timeline, but its actions have already sparked a sense of unease across law schools statewide. The ABA, the nation's oldest and most influential legal accreditor, has faced increasing pushback in recent years, particularly from conservative leadership. Once regarded as a politically neutral authority, it is now often seen by its critics as straying into ideological territory. That shift has led the federal government to revoke the ABA's power to vet judicial nominees and has barred federal attorneys from participating in ABA events. Yet for law students and legal educators, this fight isn't about partisanship; it's about practical consequences. Texas deans push back In a united front, the deans of eight of Texas' ten ABA-accredited law schools sent a letter to the state's highest court urging it to maintain the requirement. They argue that the ABA's accreditation process, though rigorous, offers consistency, transparency, and, most importantly, national mobility. According to the National Association for Law Placement, roughly 12% of Texas law graduates from the Class of 2023 took jobs in other states. Without ABA accreditation, these graduates could find themselves ineligible to practice outside Texas, effectively boxed into a single state's jurisdiction. For many, this loss of flexibility would be devastating. The deans also emphasized the value the ABA brings in terms of data collection, outcome reporting, and public accountability. Stripping away this layer of oversight, they argue, would not only isolate Texas law graduates but could also undermine public trust in the legal education system itself. A fractured consensus among legal leaders Interestingly, not all voices from within Texas's legal education system are aligned. Robert Chesney, dean of the University of Texas School of Law, the state's highest-ranked law school, chose not to sign the joint letter. Instead, he submitted a separate comment encouraging the court to explore alternative pathways, such as recognizing multiple accrediting bodies or allowing case-by-case exemptions. Chesney's tone was cautious but forward-looking, acknowledging the need for innovation and cost reform while still stressing the importance of preserving national mobility for graduates. His nuanced stance suggests a willingness to evolve, but not at the expense of opportunity. Another notable absence came from Texas A&M Law Dean Robert Ahdieh, who also refrained from joining the group letter. Ahdieh later commented that while competitive pressures might improve the ABA's performance, safeguarding the ability of Texas law graduates to practice across the country must remain 'critical.' The political underpinnings Though framed as a policy review, the roots of this debate run deeper, into the broader political climate of mistrust in long-standing institutions. The ABA, once an uncontroversial gatekeeper, has increasingly become a lightning rod in the national culture wars. Its stances on judicial independence, diversity, and rule-of-law norms have made it a target of conservative administrations. Texas' potential departure from the ABA requirement may be less about educational outcomes and more about reshaping the legal landscape to reflect shifting political ideologies. In doing so, it risks turning legal education into a patchwork of regional standards, with Texas charting a course that isolates its students rather than empowering them. What's at stake for students? Beneath the institutional battles and political rhetoric, students remain the most vulnerable stakeholders. Today's first-year law student in Texas may not know whether their degree will carry the same weight in New York or California when they graduate. Employers outside the state may hesitate to hire, uncertain of the new standards. Prospective students, wary of a narrower future, may opt for schools elsewhere. In effect, a Texas law degree, once seen as a passport to practice anywhere, could become a local credential with limited reach. This erosion of trust in portability could diminish the appeal of Texas law schools and discourage top talent from applying. A precedent in the making The Texas Supreme Court has yet to decide whether it will uphold, revise, or eliminate the ABA accreditation requirement. But as it deliberates, legal educators, students, and national observers are watching closely. Because what Texas decides won't just shape its own legal education system, it could trigger a broader reckoning over who gets to define professional standards in America. If Texas chooses to walk away from the ABA, it won't just be challenging an institution, it may be redrawing the boundaries of legal opportunity itself. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us here . Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Reuters
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Trump executive order says ABA's role as law school accreditor may be revoked
April 24 (Reuters) - The Trump Administration said in an executive order on Wednesday that it is considering revoking the American Bar Association's status as the federally recognized accreditor of law schools, a change that could impact lawyer licensing, student loans and attorney mobility, legal education experts said. President Donald Trump said he was directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to assess whether to suspend or terminate the ABA as the government's official law school accreditor, citing its 'unlawful 'diversity, equity, and inclusion' requirements,' as part of an executive order, opens new tab focused on reforming higher education accreditation. The order also calls for a similar review of two medical school accrediting bodies. The ABA did not provide comment on the order. Trump's order followed a similar warning by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March which had said that the government could revoke the ABA's accreditor status. The U.S. Department of Education has recognized the ABA as the accreditor of law schools since 1952. Bondi said in a March letter to the ABA that she wanted it to repeal its law school diversity rule and scrap a planned revision. The ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar suspended, opens new tab the diversity rule in February. A national accreditation system like the ABA's gives law graduates more mobility and 'protects the public as well as the substantial investments law students make in legal education,' said Kellye Testy, executive director of the Association of American Law Schools. A single accreditation system enables law graduates to work in any state and in rural areas that don't have a law school, Testy said. If the ABA loses its accreditation status, it could lead to a "patchwork of licensure requirements," said Austen Parrish, dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. The vast majority of states currently require law students to graduate from an ABA-accredited law school in order to sit for the bar exam. The high courts in Texas and Florida have both said in recent weeks that they are reviewing their ABA-graduation requirement, with the Florida justices citing the ABA's former law school diversity and inclusion rule. Having to meet different requirements from multiple accreditors and states would be a headache for law schools, said Stetson University Law Dean Benjamin Barros. It's also unclear whether any other accreditor would step in to oversee law schools, he added. 'If not the ABA, then who?' Barros said. 'Having that national standard is really important.' Student loan access could also be affected. College and professional degree students must attend accredited programs in order to be eligible for federal student loans. The vast majority of the nation's 195 ABA-accredited law schools get their federal loan eligibility through the accreditation of their central universities, not the ABA. But 13 standalone law schools, which aren't part of larger universities, use their independent ABA accreditation for federal loan eligibility as of July, Education Department data show. If the ABA loses its accreditation authority, those independent schools, which include Brooklyn Law School and Southwestern Law School, would likely need to seek approval from other accreditors in order for their students to qualify for federal loans, Barros said.
Reuters
24-04-2025
- Business
- Reuters
These law schools posted highest employment rates of 2024
April 24 (Reuters) - Duke Law School sent the highest percentage of graduates into full-time law jobs in 2024, unseating the University of Virginia School of Law, which held that position the two previous years, according to data from the American Bar Association. Nearly 98% of Duke's 2024 juris doctor graduates went on to full-time, permanent jobs that require bar passage — the highest of all 195 ABA-accredited law schools. Cornell Law School was next with an employment rate of 96.43%, followed by Baylor University School of Law at 95.45% and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law at 95.09%. Former No. 1 Virginia posted the fifth-highest employment rate at 94.65%. Virginia law school did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Data released on Wednesday by the ABA shows that the law class of 2024 enjoyed record-high employment 10 months after leaving campus. More than 82% of last year's juris doctor class landed jobs that require bar admission. That percentage, representing the highest rate ever recorded by the ABA for bar admission jobs, was up from 80% in 2023. That gain is especially notable because last year's class had nearly 11% more graduates than its predecessor, meaning there were 3,722 more new lawyers competing for jobs. Baylor posted the highest employment rate among law schools outside of T-14, which are the top 14 schools according to U.S. News & Report. The Waco, Texas, law school is ranked No. 43. These law schools ranked tops for jobs in 2023
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Results released for February 2025 bar exam in Florida: Which schools made the grade?
Only eight students from Florida's Ave Maria School of Law took the bar exam for the first time this February, but because seven passed, that makes the school tops in the state's bar passage rate. With an 87.5% pass rate, the Naples-based law school is No. 1 among the state's 11 accredited law schools whose graduates sat for the exam. Overall, 553 people took the bar for the first time in the Feb. 25-26 Bar Examination in Tampa, and 359 passed – or 64.9%, according to a Monday announcement from the Florida Board of Bar Examiners. That's an increase from the 56% who passed (or 334 out of 593) last February, for a nearly 9-point jump. Florida, as most states do, offers its bar exam twice yearly, in February and July. A greater number of test takers, many of whom have just graduated from law school in May, sit for the summer administration of the exam. Coming in at No. 2 this February was the University of Florida College of Law in Gainesville (76.5%) and St. Thomas University College of Law in Miami Gardens (75%) was third. Last place went to Barry University School of Law in Orlando, with 46.8%. Those who are already admitted to the practice of law and took the bar exam here for the first time had a 72.1% pass rate (160 out of 222). Those who went to law schools outside Florida passed with 47.9% (34 out of 71). In Florida, the state's Supreme Court ultimately decides who becomes an attorney. "Passing the bar," as it's known, is but one step: Applicants also must pass clear an in-depth background check, usually referred to as character and fitness review. Florida's exam – again, like many states – is given over two days, with one day consisting of written essays and another devoted to a six-hour, 200 multiple-choice question test known as the Multistate Bar Examination. Also, applicants have to pass a separate legal ethics test, called the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination. Florida's Supreme Court last month launched a review of its long-standing requirement that bar exam applicants graduate from an ABA-accredited law school. A workgroup, chaired by former Justice Ricky Polston, will submit its recommendations by Sept. 30. The move comes amid growing conservative scrutiny of the ABA's influence, including concerns over accreditation costs, its political activity and diversity standards. This story contains previously published material. Jim Rosica is a member of the USA TODAY Network – Florida Capital Bureau. Reach him at jrosica@ and follow him on Twitter/X: @JimRosicaFL. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida 2025 bar exam results: How did February test-takers do?
Reuters
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Dropping ABA requirement for lawyers is bad idea, law school association says
April 9 (Reuters) - The Association of American Law Schools urged states to not abandon their requirements that attorneys must graduate from American Bar Association-accredited law schools in order to practice, The AALS warned in an open letter, opens new tab on Tuesday that eliminating state ABA accreditation rules would weaken public protections and limit law student and lawyer mobility. Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here. The letter from the AALS, which represents nearly all of the 197 ABA-accredited law schools, comes as the Supreme Courts of Florida and Texas are exploring whether to drop their longstanding ABA requirements for lawyer admission. Florida has the third-largest number of annual bar exam takers, followed by Texas in fourth. Those two states are home to a combined 22 ABA-accredited law schools. 'Ending or eliminating reliance on national accreditation and returning to the parochial approaches the legal profession took in the 1800s would harm our nation's law schools and the broader legal profession,' reads the letter from the association's executive committee, which notes that the ABA first adopted law school accreditation standards in 1921. The ABA faces mounting pressure from the Trump administration and other Republicans to end its diversity and inclusion requirement for law schools. The ABA has also earned the White House's ire for issuing public statements that Trump is threatening the rule of law and for condemning government officials' attacks on judges and law firms. All of the Texas and Florida Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republican governors. Spokespeople for both courts did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Wednesday, nor did an ABA spokesperson. The ABA's managing director of accreditation and legal education, Jenn Rosato Perea, previously said the ABA aims to contribute "meaningfully to the production of effective and ethical lawyers." The Texas high court did not say why it is reviewing its ABA requirement when it called for public comment on the matter on Friday, but the Florida Supreme Court cited both, the diversity standard and the 'ABA's active political engagement,' as reasons for its inquiry. The arm of the ABA that accredits law schools operates separately and independently from the larger ABA, the AALS letter reads. Thus, references to the organization's 'political engagement' may stem from a misunderstanding, it said. Having one national law school accreditor makes it easy for law students to attend schools in states where they don't intend to practice, and for lawyers to easily move between states. Florida and Texas' attorneys general and solicitors general went to law schools outside of those states, as did the majority of the Supreme Court justices in both states, the AALS' letter notes. 'Having a national accreditor is critical,' the letter reads. 'National accreditation ensures a minimum baseline of quality in legal education and practice that protects the public against inadequately prepared lawyers.'
