1. Overview of the Law School Accreditation Process
presented by Bill Adams
Deputy Managing Director

2. The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
1879 ABA established the Standing Committee on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar as one of its first committees
1893 Section was established as first section of the ABA
1900 AALS created-Section played a major role
1952 Council of the Section approved by U.S. Department of Education as recognized national accrediting agency for first degree in law

3. Purpose of Accreditation
To enable graduates of ABA approved law schools to sit for the bar
Unified, national accrediting process ensuring consistency among 50 states, District of Columbia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and territories
Law school need not certify their graduates in every jurisdiction in which they may wish to apply for admission

4. Council Structure 21 Voting Members
No more than 10 may be law school deans or faculty members
Members include judges, practicing lawyers, one law student, and at least three public members who are neither lawyers or employees of a law school

5. Accreditation Committee Structure
19 Members
No more than 9 may be law school deans or faculty members
Members include judges, practicing lawyers, and public members

6. Planning for the Visit at the School
Sabbatical Review of Fully Approved Schools Every Seven Years
Self Study Process in Preparation for Site Visit
--Site Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ)
--Self Assessment

7. Appointment of Site Team Chair
The Site Visit Process
Appointment of Site Team Chair
Appointment of Other Site Team Members
-Librarian
-Clinician
-Judge/Practitioner
-Academic
-Univ. Admin.
-AALS Representative
-Team Member Assignments
-Organization of Visit

8. -Preparation for the Visit -Prior Site Visit History
-Materials
-Preparation for the Visit
-Prior Site Visit History
-SEQ
-3 AQs
--Interim Monitoring (where applicable)
Site Report
Template
Site Visit
-Team Meetings
-Entrance Meeting
-Interviews with Faculty, Administrators, Staff
-Class Visits
-Meeting(s) with Students
-Exit Interview

9. Post-Visit Preparation of Site Report
Template
Office Review
Review of Site Report and Response by School

10. Evaluation of Site Team
-by Dean
-by Chair
-by Team Members
-by Report Reviewer
-by AC Monitor
-RFI
-12(a)(2), (a)(3),(a)(4)13(b) & 14
Consideration of Site Report by Accreditation Committee/Decision Letter

11. Report Back by School on Any RFI’s, 12(a)(2), (a)(3), 12(a)(4) & 14
“School Remains on List of Approved Law Schools”