ABA Accreditation / Approval of Law Schools

What is the difference between attending an ABA accredited law school and a non-ABA accredited law school? How does it affect the individual?

The ABA Standards for the Approval of Law Schools assure that students who attend ABA-approved law schools will receive a sound program of legal education. Schools not approved by the ABA need not comply with these Standards and the ABA can make no representation about the quality of the program of legal education offered at non-approved law schools.

The criteria for eligibility to take the bar examination or to otherwise qualify for bar admission are set by each state, not by the ABA or the Council for the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. All states recognize that graduation from an ABA-approved law school satisfies the legal education requirements that a person must meet to be eligible to sit for the bar examination. In many states, a person may not sit for the bar examination unless that person holds a J.D. degree from an ABA-approved law school. Other states have their own rules about the legal education that a student must obtain in order to qualify to sit for that state's examination, including allowing some graduates of non-ABA approved law schools to sit for that state's bar examination. Information on these requirements is available in the book Comprehensive Guide to Bar Admissions. Order now, (purchase)

What is ABA (provisional)/accreditation/approval?

The ABA Role in General:
Law schools approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) provide a legal education which meets a minimum set of standards as promulgated by the ABA. Every jurisdiction in the United States has determined that graduates of ABA-approved law schools are able to sit for the bar in their respective jurisdiction. The role that the ABA plays as the national accrediting body has enabled accreditation to become unified and national in scope rather than fragmented, with the potential for inconsistency, among the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other territories.

How long is the accreditation/approval process? (How long does it take for a school to receive approval?)

The first step in the approval process for a law school is provisional approval. With one limited exception, a school may not apply for provisional approval until it has completed the first academic year of its program [Rule of Procedure 4(c)]. A provisionally approved school may not apply for full approval until it has been provisionally approved for at least two years [Standard 103(a)].

What is the status of students who attend or graduate from a law school that does not complete the approval/accreditation process?

Individuals who graduate from a school that is provisionally or fully approved at the time of graduation are graduates of an ABA-approved law school. It does not matter that the school was not approved when the student first enrolled in the school or that the school loses its approval subsequent to an individual's graduation. Students attending schools that are provisionally approved are considered to be students attending an ABA-approved law school.

Students who graduate from a law school that is not provisionally or fully approved do not become graduates of an approved school if that school later receives ABA approval.

These matters are covered by Standards 102 and 103 and several of the Interpretations to those Standards.

Is ABA approval perpetual?

Approval is ongoing and effective until it is withdrawn according to the Standards and Rules of Procedure. After a school is granted full approval, it undergoes a full site evaluation in the third year after full approval, and then a full sabbatical site evaluation every seven years. The site evaluation process and the review of the site report by the Accreditation Committee is very similar to that described in connection with a school's application for provisional approval.

What are the ABA Standards and Rules of compliance for accreditation?

The Standards and Rules are adopted by the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. They state the requirements that must be satisfied for a school to be approved by the ABA and the processes that are followed for approval and periodic review. The Standards establish the minimum requirements for a sound program of legal education. Schools may have their own requirements for graduation, rules and procedures that go beyond the Standards, and all law schools do. The Standards encourage law schools to adopt rules and requirements beyond what the Standards require that further the school's own mission and aspirations. See Standard 104.

The Standards and Rules are available at http://www.abanet.org/legaled/standards/standards.html.

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Prelaw Questions

How should I prepare for the LSAT?

Allow several months for preparation. The best preparation for the test is a solid undergraduate education with an emphasis on reading and reasoning skills, linked to familiarity with the essentials of the test. The most widely accessible and least expensive form of preparation is the material comprised of actual, disclosed test questions and test forms that has been published in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book, available at www.lsac.org.

How many times should I take the LSAT?

You should prepare adequately and take the LSAT only once when you are best prepared. All scores from each time you have taken the LSAT will be reported to the law schools to which you apply. Some schools may consider only your most recent score, whereas others may consider an average of all scores.

When should I apply to law school?

There are several reasons to complete your law school applications and take the LSAT as early as possible. First, you will have more time to complete your application file. Second, you will have more time to evaluate the schools that have accepted you. Third, you will reduce the chance that a problem or error in paperwork might delay the review of your application. If you apply early, it is likely that you will be competing for more first-year seats. On the other hand, a late application may be reviewed more stringently because already-admitted applicants have reduced the number of available seats.

When should I apply for financial aid?

Competition for law school grants and scholarships is intense. You should apply for financial aid at the same time you apply for admission. Federal financial aid forms cannot be filed before January 1 of the year in which you intend to enroll. Be prepared to file as soon after that date as possible.
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