Council meeting schedule and materials

    Council Meetings

    Schedule of Upcoming Meetings

    Open Session Materials

    November 20, 2020

    In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental and employer restrictions regarding travel and meeting size, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association will not have an in-person meeting in November 2020. The Council will conduct its accreditation business by video conference and will have an open session on Friday, November 20, beginning at 2:30 p.m. CST.

    If you would like to attend the open session, please register at https://americanbar.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_jMFd8AIST8aPaQpsHA1qBg.

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Approve the August Open Session Minutes

    B. Standards Committee Report
    1. October Roundtable Summary
    2. Rule 29 Memo
    3. Teach-Out Agreement Approval Form
    4. Teach-Out Plan Approval Form
    5. Proposed Changes to the Standards, Rules, and IOP's Memo 
    6. SALT Statement on Standard 316

    C. Questionnaire and Template Committee Report
    1. 2021 Bar Passage Questionnaire Memo 
    2. 2021 Bar Passage Questionnaire

    D. Governance Committee Report
    1. Proposed Changes to the Bylaws

    E. Oral Reports from Affiliate Organizations
    1. AccessLex
    2. AALL
    3. AALS
    4. CLEA
    5. LSAC
    6. NALP
    7. NCBE

    F. Written Reports from Affiliate Organizations
    1. Accesslex
    2. AALL
    3. AALS
    4. CLEA
    5. LSAC
    6a. NALP
    6b. NALP Employment and Salary Data
    7. NCBE 
    8. SALT

    G. Reports
    1. House of Delegates Representatives
    2. Section Director
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Managing Director
    6. Chair

    August 14, 2020

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Approval of May 2020 Open Session Minutes

    B. Standards Committee Report
    1. Rule 2 Memo
    2. Proposed SRS Agenda for 2020-21
    3. Summary of Comments and Recommendations
    4. Comments on SRS Agenda for 2020-21 
    5. Letter to Council Regarding Bias, Cultural Awareness, and Anti-Racist Practices Education and Training
    6. SALT Statement on ABA Standard 316 and 206

    C. Employment Questionnaire/Employment Summary Report
    1. Employment Summary Report for the Class of 2020
    2. Employment Protocols for the Class of 2020

    D. Questionnaire, Data Reporting, and COVID-19 Issues
    1. Standard 509 Report Mockup
    2. 2020-2021 SEQ-SRT Instructions

    E. Finance Committee Report

    F. Oral Report from Affiliate Organizations
    1. AALS
    2. AccessLex
    3. LSAC
    4. NALP
    5. NCBE
    6. SALT

    G. Written Reports from Affiliate Organizations
    1. AALL
    2. AALS
    3. AccessLex
    4. CLEA
    5. LSAC
    6a. NALP 
    6b. NALP Class of 2019 Summary
    7. NCBE
    8. SALT

    H. Reports
    1. House of Delegates Representatives
    2. Section Director
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Managing Director
    6. Chair

    July 31, 2020 

    Annual Section Business Meeting Materials
    1. Agenda
    2. Minutes
    3. 2019-2020 Council Slate
    4. Revised Bylaws
    5. Report of the Managing Director

    Friday, May 15, 2020

    In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and related governmental and employer restrictions regarding travel and meeting size, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) held its May 2020 meeting by video conference and held a brief open session conference call on Friday, May 15. 

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Approval of February 2020 Minutes

    B. Standards Review Subcommittee Report
    1. Preliminary Recommendations on Proposed Changes related to Distance Education
    2. Final Recommendations on Proposed Changes related to Distance Education
    3. Proposed Changes to Rule 2
    4. SALT Statement Regarding Standard 316 
    5. AASE Statement Regarding Standard 316 
    6. CLEA Statement Regarding Standard 316

    C. Governance Committee Report
    1. Memo on Bylaw Changes

    D. Questionnaire Related to Law School Responses to COVID-19 
    1. Emergency Questionnaire

    E. Written Reports from Affiliate Organizations 
    1. AccessLex
    2. Association of American Law Schools
    3. Law School Admission Council
    4. National Association for Law Placement
    5. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    F. Reports 
    1. House of Delegates Representatives
    2. Section Director
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Managing Director
    6. Chair

     

    February 21, 2020
    Tampa, FL

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B. November 2019 Minutes

    C. Standards Review Subcommittee
    1. Preliminary Recommendations on Proposed Changes to the Standards and Rules
    2. Proposed Changes to Standards on Distance Education

    D. Written Reports of Affiliate Organizations
    1. AccessLex
    2. American Association of Law Libraries
    3. Association of American Law Schools
    4. Clinical Legal Education Association
    5. Law School Admission Council
    6. National Association for Law Placement
    7. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    E. AQ and Self Study Questionnaires for 2020-2021
    1. Memo to Council: 2020-2021 Drafts of SEQ, Site Report Template and the Annual Questionnaire
    2. 2020-2021 Draft of SEQ
    3. 2020-2021 Draft of Site Report Template
    4. 2020-2021 Draft of AQ
    5. Report 4 Teaching Resources
    6. 2020-2021 Non-SAT Score Chart

    F. Report on 2019 Employment Questionnaire Outcomes and Process
    1. Memo: Employment Questionnaire: Class of 2018 Random Graduate Reviews and Elevated
    Reviews

    G. Report on 2020 Bar Pass Questionnaire Outcomes
    1. Bar Passage News Announcement
    2. 2017 Ultimate Outcomes
    3. 2019 First Time Outcomes

    H. Reports
    1. Managing Director Search
    2. House of Delegates Representatives
    3. Section Director
    4. Young Lawyers Division
    5. Law Student Division
    6. Managing Director
    7. Chair

    I. Other Information

    November 22, 2019
    Austin, TX

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B. Action Items
    1. Approve August 2019 Minutes

    C. Standards Review Subcommittee Report
    1. Memo on Proposed Changes to the Standards, Rules, and IOP's
    2. Memo on Proposed Change to Rule 27
    3. IOP 13: Conflicts of Interest Memo 
    4. Rule 2: Council Responsibility and Authority with Regard to Accreditation Status

    D. Presentation and Discussion Items

    1. Oral Reports of Affiliate Organizations
    a. American Association of Law Schools
    b. Association of Legal Writing Directors
    c. Law School Admission Council
    d. National Association for Law Placement
    e. National Conference of Bar Examiners
    f. Society of American Law Teachers

    E. Revisions to Standard 509 Guidance Memo
    1. ABA Memo

    F. Discussion of State Task Force Reports on Regulatory Reform in the Profession and Implications for the Council’s Work, Legal Education and Bar Admissions
    1. Council Discussion of State Regulatory Reform Initiatives – Memo
    2. AZ Supreme Court Task Force on the Delivery of Legal Services Report
    3. CA State Bar Study of Online Delivery of Legal Services –Landscape Analysis
    4. IL Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Regulatory Sandboxes for the Legal Industry
    5. A Regulatory Sandbox for the Industry of Law - Jiménez & Hagan
    6. Utah Work Group on Regulatory Reform - Narrowing the Access-to-Justice Gap by Reimagining Regulation

    G. Reports

    1. Written Reports of Affiliate Organizations
    a. AccessLex Institute
    b. Association of American Law Libraries
    c. Association of American Law Schools
    d. Association of Legal Writing Directors
    e. Law School Admission Council
    f. National Association for Law Placement
    g. National Conference of Bar Examiners
    h. Society of American Law Teachers

    2. Council Reports
    a. Section Director
    b. Delegates to the House
    c. Young Lawyers Division
    d. Law Student Division
    e. BOG Liaison
    f. Managing Director
    g. Chair

    August 23, 2019
    Chicago, IL

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B. Action Items
     1. May 2019 Council Open Session Minutes

    C. Presentation and Discussion Items
    1. Oral Reports of Affiliate Organizations
        a. American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
        b. American Association of Law Schools (AALS)   
        c. AccessLex
        d. Clinical Legal Education Association (CLEA)   
        e. Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
        f. National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
        g. National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)

    D. Standards Subcommittee
    1. Memo on Proposed Changes to the Criteria for Foreign Programs
    2. Memo on Proposed Changes to the Standards and Rules  
    3. Proposed Standards Review Agenda for 2019-20 
    4. Memo on Comments Received on Standards Review Agenda for 2019-20
    5. Comments Received on Standards Review Agenda for 2019-20 
        a. Request for Change Regarding Non-Compliance with Standard 205(b)
        b. Comments on Substance Abuse and Well-Being
        c. Request for Changes to ABA Standard 306
        d. Request to Change ABA Standard 501 Admissions Standards
        e. Request for Change to ABA Standard 501 (Inter. 501-3)
        f. Request for Change to Standard 507  
    6. August 21 Notice and Comment Hearing Transcript

    E. Bar Passage Outcomes Reporting
    1. 2019-2020 Bar Passage Outcomes Questionnaire and 509 Reporting Form Memo
    2. Bar Pass Questionnaire and 509 Form

    F. Employment Data Collection Process & Council Action
    1. ABA Guidance Document: Employment Protocols for the Class of 2019 (Marked Up Copy)
    2. Memo: Updates to the ABA Guidance Document: Employment Protocols for the Class of 2019
    3. ABA Guidance Document: Employment Protocols for the Class of 2019 (Clean Copy)

    G. 509 Reporting of Admission Test Scores
    1. 2019 509 Mockup Without Non-LSAT Section
    2. 2019 509 Mockup With Non-LSAT Section

    H. FY20 Budget

    I. Reports
    1. Written Reports of Affiliate Organizations
        a. AALL
        b. AALS
        c. CLEA
        d. LSAC
        e. NALP
        f. NALP-Class of 2018-Preliminary ERSS Findings
        g. NCBE

    2. Council Reports
        a. Section Director
        b. Delegates to the House
        c. Young Lawyers Division
        d. Law Student Division
        e. BOG Liaison

    J. Managing Director

    K. Chair

    August 9, 2019
    San Francisco, CA

    Section Business Meeting Materials
    1. Agenda
    2. Minutes
    3. 2019-2020 Council Slate
    4. Revised Bylaws

    May 17, 2019
    Chicago, IL

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B. Action Items
    1. February 2019 Open Session Minutes

    2. Standards
    a. Standard 316 
      1. Resolution 105
      2. Standard 316 Memorandum
      3. Standard 316 FAQ's
      4. ABA Diversity Groups Letter
      5. Dean Pierre Letter
      6. SALT Letter
      7. CLEA Letter
      8. Video of HOD Debate
      9. MSBA YLS Letter
      10. CLEA SALT Memo
      11. Memo from ABA Entities, CLEA, SALT, HBCU Deans, HNBA
      12. Legal Writing Institute Statement
      13. Elon Letter
      14. Wegner Comment
      15. Patton Comment
      16. Howarth Comment
      17. SALT May 2019 Letter
      18. Letter from ABA-Accredited Law School Leaders re Task Force
      19. Statement from Puerto Rico Law Schools

    Bar Pass Data
    1. 2016 Ultimate Bar Pass Data
    2. 2018 1st Time Pass Rate

    b. Standards Subcommittee Reports
      1. Memo to Council on Standards
      2. Memo to Council on Proposed Rules
      3. Appendix 1: Appeals Process Timeline
      4. Memo to Council on Proposed Interpretation to Standard 206

    c. Proposed Changes to Foreign Summer and Semester Abroad Programs
      1. Foreign Program memo
      2. Criteria for Programs Offered by ABA-Approved Law Schools Outside the U.S.

    3. Questionnaires
      a. Memo to Council re AQ and BPQ
      b. 2019 Annual Questionnaire (clean)
      c. 2019 Annual Questionnaire (redlined)
      d. 2020 Bar Pass Questionnaire
      e. 2019 Employment Summary Report

    C. Presentation and Discussion Items
    1. Oral Reports of Affiliate Organizations
      a. American Association of Law Schools
      b. AccessLex
      c. Association of Legal Writing Directors
      d. Law School Admission Council
      e. National Association for Law Placement
      f. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    D. Reports
    1. Section Director
    2. Delegates to the House
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Managing Director
    6. Chair

    E. Additional Documents and Information
    1. Affiliate written reports
      a. Association of American Law Schools
      b. AccessLex
      c. Association of Legal Writing Directors
      d. Law School Admission Council
      e. National Association for Law Placement
      f. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    February 22, 2019
    Marina del Rey, CA

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B. Action Items
     1. November 2018 Open Session Minutes

     2. Standards Committee Report
        a. Memo to Council on Standards
        b. Memo to Council on Proposed Rules
        c. Appendix 1: Appeals Process Timeline

    3. Standard 316
        a. Resolution 105
        b. Standard 316 Memorandum
        c. ABA Diversity Groups Letter
        d. Dean Pierre Letter
        e. SALT Letter
        f. CLEA Letter
        g. Video of HOD Debate

    4. Self-Study Questionnaire

    C. Presentation and Discussion Items 
    1. Oral Reports of Affiliate Organizations
        a. American Association of Law Libraries
        b. Association of American Law Schools
        c. Clinical Legal Education Association
        d. Law School Admission Council
        e. Society of American Law Teachers

    2. Report on 2019 Employment Outcomes Report Review Process

    3. Discuss Formation of Working Group to Study Appropriate Council Oversight of Non-JD Programs

    D. Reports
    1. Section Director
    2. Delegates to the House
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Managing Director
    6. Chair

    E. Additional Documents and Information
    1. Affiliate Written Reports
        a. American Association of Law Libraries
        b. Association of American Law Schools
        c. Clinical Legal Education Association
                1. CLEA Externship Committee Report
        d. National Association for Law Placement
                1. NALP Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms
        e. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    November 16, 2018
    Atlanta, GA

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome

    B.  September Meeting Open Session Minutes

    C.  Before the JD Study Presentation 

    D.  Affiliate Written Reports
    1.  AccessLex
    2. American Association of Law Libraries
    3. Association of Legal Writing Directors
    4. Law School Admission Council
    5. National Association for Law Placement
    6. National Conference of Bar Examiners

    E.  Standards Matters
    1. Standards for the 2018-2019 Work Agenda
       1a. Proposed Standards Review Agenda for 2018-19 Memo
       1b. Appendix A – Summary of Comments of ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure - 2018-19 
    2. Standard 316
       2a. Standard 316 Memo
       2b. Bar Passage Data 

    F.  Reports (materials coming soon)
    1.  Section Director
    2.  Delegates to the House
    3.  Board of Governors Liaison  
    4.  Young Lawyers Division
    5.  Law Student Division
    6.  Managing Director
    7.  Chair

    G.  Additional Information 
    1.  NALP/NALP Foundation Job Satisfaction Study
    2. Class of 2014 Alumni Study
    3. Political Ideologies of American Lawyers
    4. Under and  Over Performing

    September 14, 2018
    St. Louis, MO

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Welcome and Introductions

    B. August Meeting Open Session Minutes

    C. Employment Outcomes Review Matters
        1. Winek Overview Memo
        2. Winek Changes Memo
        3. Final Protocol
        4. University of Detroit Mercy Reporting Question

    D. Non-JD Certificate Matters

    E. Standards Matters (no materials)

    F. Section Matters (no materials)

    G. Model In-House Counsel Matter

    H. ROLI Cooperation (no materials)

    I. Section Director Matters
       1. Section Director's Report

    J. Reports (no materials)
    1. Delegates to the House
    2. Board of Governors
    3. Young Lawyers Division
    4. Law Student Division
    5. Chair
        i. Litigation Work Group

    Affiliate Written Reports
    1. LSAC
    2. NALP
    3. NCBE

    August 3, 2018
    Chicago, IL 

    Open Session Agenda

    A. May 2018 Open Session Minutes

    B. Approve FY19 Budget (no materials)

    C. Report on NACIQI and Outcome of USDE Process (materials coming soon)

    D. Affiliate Oral Reports (see written reports under K)
     1. American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
    2. Association of American Law Schools (AALS)
    3. National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
    4. National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)

    E. ABA Presidential Commission on the Future of Legal Education (materials coming soon)

    May 11, 2018
    Washington, DC

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Greetings and Introductions

    B. February 2018 Open Session Minutes

    C. Report of Standards Review Committee

    1. Standards 205, 206, 501,503 
    2. Standards 303, 304, 306, 307, and 601
    3. Revisions to Rules of Procedure
    4. Global Review of the Standards and Transparency
    4a.Memo – Global Review of Standards and Transparency
    4b. Appendix- Special Committee on Transparency
    5. Comments Received and Hearing Transcript
    6. Reorganization Rules
    7. Reorganization Standards
    8. Reorganization Bylaws
    9. Reorganization IOP's

    E. Annual Questionnaire and Self-Study Forms Review and Approval

    1. Overview of 2018 AQ Changes
    2. Part I School Information
    3. Part II Admissions and Enrollment
    4. Part III Non-J.D.
    5. Part IV Financial Aid
    6. Part V Faculty and Courses
    7. Part VI Fiscal
    8. Part VII Foreign Study

    F. Data Collection and Dissemination Discussion

    1. Syllabus Article: Transparency and its Limits
    2. Data Collection and Reporting Memo

    G. Reports

    1. Affiliate Organization Written Reports

    February 9, 2018
    San Antonio, TX

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Call to Order (no written materials)

    B. November 2017 Open Session Minutes

    C. Standards Review Committee Report
    1. SRC Memo re Standard 306
    2. SRC Memo re Standard 307
    3. SRC Memo re Rule 53
    4. Memo re Proposed Change to Rule 53
    5. Overview of Revised Self Study
    6. 2018-2019 Self Study Questionnaire

    D. Reports on Bar Pass and Employment Outcomes Questionnaires (no written materials)

    E. Affiliate Organizations Oral Reports (see written reports below)

    F1. Standards Review Committee Report on Employment Outcomes Reporting Form
    a. SRC Memo re Employment Outcomes Form
    b. 2016 Employment Summary Form
    c. 2017 Employment Summary Form

    F2. Recent Communications on the Employment Outcomes Reporting Form
    a. Letter from NALP
    b. Letter from Interested Deans/Career Services Professionals
    c. Letter from Yale Law Students
    d. Letter from Faculty
    e. Email from Dean Alan Michaels
    f. Letter from the Judiciary
    g. Letter from Public Interest Organizations
    h. Letter from Dean William Treanor
    i. Letter from the Student Bar Association
    j. Letter from the Law Student Division Council

    G. Restructuring of Council and Work (no written materials)

    H. Section Director’s Report

    I. Reports

    1. Affiliate Organization Written Reports
    a. American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
    b. Association of American Law Schools (AALS)
    c. Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
    d. National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
    e. National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)

    2. Member and Staff Reports 
    a. Law Student Division Report
    b. Young Lawyer’s Division
    c. Board of Governor’s Liaison
    d. House of Delegates Representative
    e. Managing Director
    f.  Chair

    J. Information Items
    1. Raymond Pierce at Southern Education Foundation
    2. AccessLex Gallup Study
    3. ACE Outline of PROSPER Act
    4. Bar Examiner Training for Tomorrow
    5. IHE Article on PROSPER
    6. The Changing Lawyer
    7. US House of Representatives PROSPER Act Bill Summary

    November 2-4, 2017
    Boston, MA

    Open Session Agenda

    A. Greetings and Introductions (no written materials)

    B. August 2017 Open Session Minutes

    C. Employment Outcomes Reporting Form
    1. Cover Memo with Form

    D. ABA Young Lawyers Division Request

    E.  Internal Operating Practices 14 & 15

    F. Affiliate Organizations Oral Reports (See written reports below)

    G. Standards
    1. Standards Previously Posted for Notice and Comment 
    a. Standards 106, 403 and 503
    Comments Received on Proposals out for Notice and Comment
    b. Standard 316
    i.  Standard 316 Memo to Council
    ii. 2017 HOD Report on Std 316
    iii. Bar Outcomes Survey
    iv. Law Schools Participating in Summer/Fall 2017 Bar Outcomes Survey 
    v. Supreme Court Letter re California Bar Exam

    2. Memo from SRC on Proposed Changes to the Standards

    3. Memo from SRC on Proposed Changes to Rules of Procedure

    H. Council Restructuring
    1. Restructuring Project Memo
    2. Revised Standards for Reorganization
    3. Revised Rules of Procedure for Reorganization

    I. Section Director's Report

    J. Reports
    1. Affiliate Written Reports
    a. AccessLex
    b. American Association of Law Libraries (AALL)
    c. Association of American Law Schools (AALS)
    d. Association of Legal Writing Directors (ALWD)
    e. National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
    f. National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE)
    g. Society of American Law Teachers (SALT)

    K. Information Items
    1. Report of the National Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being
    2. Civility Matters - ABOTA Foundation
    3. ABA - IU McKinney Law Diversity Pipeline Initiative

    August 11, 2017
    New York, NY

    Open Session Agenda

    A. June 2017 Open Session Minutes

    B. Standards Review Matters
     1. Proposed changes to 106(b)(1)
    2. Report on recent public hearings and roundtables
    3a. Committee agenda for 2017-2018 year
    3b. Comments on agenda for 2017-2018 year

    C. Employment outcomes reporting form matter
    1. Murphy Memo on Employment Reporting Form
    2. Currier Memo: Implementation of Council actions on Employment Questionnaire and reports

    3. Comments
    a. Norberg (Florida International University)
    b. Pietruszkiewicz (Stetson University)
    c. Diller (Fordham University)
    d. Rodriguez (Northwestern University)
    e. Gerken (Yale Law School)
    f. University of California Deans
    g. Fourteen Deans
    h. Guzman (University of Southern California)
    i. Peters (University of Akron)
    j. Reynolds (Wake Forest University)
    k. Amar (University of Illinois)
    l. Leiter (University of Chicago)
    m. Merritt (Law School Cafe)
    n. Gerkman (IAALS ETL)
    o. McEntee (Law School Transparency)
    p. Organ (University of St. Thomas)
    q. Organ Petition Endorsers
    r. NALP
    s. Miles (University of Chicago)
    t. Muller (Pepperdine University)
    u. Levi (Duke University)
    v. Goluboff (University of Virginia)
    w. Newton (Notre Dame)
    x. Carpenter (University of New Hampshire)

    4. Report Forms
      Employment Questionnaire Data Entry Questions
      Employment Questionnaire Definitions and  Instructions

    D. Comments from Director of Law Society of Eng/Wales and Solicitors Regulatory Authority

    F. Report on Changes to IOP 4 & 5

    G. Update on Bar Pass Outcomes Survey

    H. Restructuring Proposal

    I. General Business and Reports
    1. Section Director's Report

    J. Affiliate Written Reports
    1. AALL
    2. AALS
    3. CLEA
    4. LSAC
    5. NALP
    6. NCBE

    K. Additional Information
    1. California Rules of Court
    California News Item on Bar Exam
    California Bar Standard Setting Report
    California Bar July Agenda Memo

    2. Public Service Loan Forgiveness Articles
    3. Portrait of Asian Americans in the Law
    4. HLC Partners for Transformation Project
    5. CHEA Op-Eds on the Future of Accreditation
    6. NCBE, UBE Overview

    Section Business Meeting Materials
    1. Agenda
    2. Minutes
    3. Report of the Managing Director
    4. 2017-2018 Council Slate