Texas Ends ABA Oversight: Law School Accreditation and Portability at Risk
In a significant move, Texas has become the first state to remove the American Bar Association’s (ABA) oversight of its law schools. The Texas Supreme Court’s order replaces the ABA’s accreditation authority with its own, allowing the state to set its own standards for law school graduates seeking to take the bar exam. This change means that graduates from ABA-accredited schools are no longer required to practice law in Texas. While the court aims to maintain the ability of Texas graduates to practice in other states, the decision follows months of conflict between the ABA and the Trump administration and is supported by some officials, who cite the ABA’s alleged monopolistic practices.
John Q. Hosedrinker