Law School Accreditation Complaints Alleging Non-Compliance with the Standards

For complaints against lawyers, please visit the Directory of Lawyer Disciplinary Agencies. 

Rules 40-46 of the ABA Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools govern the filing of complaints against law schools.  The complaint process is designed to bring to the attention of the Council and the Managing Director any facts and allegations that may indicate that an approved law school is operating its program of legal education out of compliance with the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools.

This is not a process for individual relief or mediation.

This process is not available to serve as a mediating or dispute-resolving process for a person with complaints about the policies or actions of an approved law school. The Council or the Managing Director will not intervene with an approved law school on behalf of an individual with a complaint against or concern regarding action taken by a law school that adversely affects that individual. The most likely outcome for a complaint that raises issues under the Standards would be a finding of non-compliance and a requirement that the law school update its policy to come into compliance.

This means that this complaint process will not result in any direct action against an individual including a professor, student, or administrator.

This process will not directly reverse a decision made by a law school in situations including, but not limited to changing grades, reversing academic dismissal, enforcement of a law school policy, or not being admitted to a program.

A complaint must meet the following requirements:

(1) Except in extraordinary circumstances, the complaint must be filed within one calendar year of the facts on which the allegation is based. Pursuit of other remedies does not toll this one calendar year limit.

(2) It is strongly encouraged that complaints are submitted using the "Complaint Against an ABA-Approved Law School" form which must be signed. The form is available here: Complaint Form.

If it is not possible to submit online, complainants may mail complaints, along with the required release form to:

American Bar Association
Section of Legal Education
321 N Clark St
Chicago, IL 60654

Release Form for Complaints to be Mailed

(3) As outlined in the Complaint Form, the complaint must include the following information:

(i) Your contact information, the name of the law school you are filing a complaint against, and the dates of the facts alleged in your complaint. Complaints may be filed anonymously.

(ii) A single pdf document that will be uploaded to the form containing: 

(1) a clear and concise description of the nature of the complaint and

(2) any evidence upon which the allegation is based, with relevant supporting documentation.

Note: The description and supporting evidence should include relevant facts that support the allegation that the law school is out of compliance with the Standards referenced in the complaint.

(iii) The Standards and Interpretations alleged to have been violated. 

(iv) A description of any steps taken to exhaust the law school's grievance process and the actions taken by the law school in response to the complaint as a result of prescribed procedures.

(v) Disclosure of any other channels the complainant is pursuing, including legal action.

Process upon receipt of a complaint

The Managing Director's Office shall determine whether the complaint alleges facts that, if substantiated, may constitute noncompliance with one or more standards. Complaints will be reviewed at the quarterly Council meetings and complainants will receive a disposition letter for their complaint within 30 days of the Council meeting. This will be the final notification provided to the complainant.

Council Meeting Dates:
November 14-16, 2024
February 20-22, 2025
May 8-10, 2025
August 21-23, 2025
November 13-15, 2025

The Managing Director's Office may request additional information from the complainant if appropriate. If the Managing Director or their designee concludes that the complaint does not raise issues relating to an approved law school’s compliance with the Standards, the matter will be closed.

There is no appeal of a conclusion by the Managing Director's Office  that a complaint does not raise issues under the Standards.

If a law school that is the subject of a complaint is due to receive a regularly scheduled sabbatical site visit within a reasonable amount of time after the complaint is received, usually within one year, the complaint may be handled as part of the sabbatical site visit.

If the review determines that the complaint may raise possible compliance issues, the complaint shall be sent to the law school and a response requested. The Managing Director or their designee ordinarily will request the dean of the law school to respond within 30 days. Pursuant to Rule 47, all accreditation matters shall be confidential. Complainants will not receive a copy of the law school’s response or a written decision of the Council.

If the response establishes that the law school is not out of compliance with respect to the matters raised in the complaint, the Managing Director's Office will close the matter.

If the law school’s response does not establish that it is operating in compliance with the Standards on the matters raised by the complaint, the Managing Director's Office, in consultation with the Chair of the Council, may appoint a fact-finder to visit the law school to investigate the issues raised by the complaint and the law school’s response. The complaint, the law school's response, and fact-finder’s report, if any, shall be referred to the Council for further action in accordance with the Rules.

There is no appeal of a conclusion by the Managing Director or their designee that a complaint does not raise issues under the Standards.

Complaints should be submitted using the form available here: Complaint Form. 

If you have any questions or trouble with the form, please email [email protected].

Learn more about the Accreditation Process or the Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools