In Support of the American Bar Association as the Accrediting Authority for Legal Education in the United States
Resolution 12: In Support of the American Bar Association as the Accrediting Authority for Legal Education in the United States
WHEREAS, the American Bar Association has nationally accredited law schools since 1922; and
WHEREAS, the American Bar Association has been recognized by the federal government as the accrediting authority for legal education since 1952; and
WHEREAS, the highest court of each jurisdiction in the United States accepts graduates of "ABA-approved" law schools as meeting educational eligibility requirements for admission to the bar of that jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association has developed expertise and an effective and reliable procedure for assessing quality of the legal education provided by law schools in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices has confidence in the American Bar Association accreditation project, as evidenced by the universal acceptance of the ABA-approved degree for bar admissions purposes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Conference of Chief Justices supports the application of the American Bar Association for continued recognition by the Department of Education as the accrediting authority for legal education in the United States and encourages the Department to approve extending the recognition of the American Bar Association for a full term.
Adopted as proposed by the CCJ Professionalism and Competence of the Bar Committee at the 2012 Annual Meeting on July 25, 2012.