Guidance Memos are issued by the Office of the Managing Director when new Standards or Interpretations have been adopted or when, in the course of the Office's dealings with schools about compliance with the Standards, a number of schools are asking for clarification or direction regarding a particular Standard, Interpretation, or reporting requirement. We remind schools that the Managing Director's Office does not have the authority to bind the Council.
A list of Guidance Memos from the Office of the Managing Director
Guidance Memos
Emergencies and Disasters
Standards for Approval of Law Schools
- Standards 102(e), 102(f), 509(b)(9), and 509(e); Rule 50(a) regarding accreditation status (August 2015, Revised April 2024)
- Standard 105(a)(12): Part-time Enrollment Options (July 2015, Revised June 2023)
- Standard 204: Self Study (January 2015, Revised April 2016, March 2017, June 2023)
- Standard 205: Non-Discrimination and Equality of Opportunity (January 2024, Revised March 2025)
- Standard 208: Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression (September 2024, Revised April 2025)
- Standards 301, 302, 314, 315: Learning Outcomes (June 2015)
- Standard 303: Curriculum and 304: Simulation Courses and Law Clinics (regarding experiential learning) (March 2015, Revised June 2023)
- Standard 305: Other Academic Study (August 2024)
- Standard 313(c): Priority Enrollment (August 2024, Revised February 2025)
- Standard 316: Bar Passage ( June 2019, Revised April 2025)
- Standard 502(d)-(e) Educational Requirements (January 2025)
- Standards 502/503 and Interpretation 503-3: Bachelor's Degree/J.D. Programs (January 2015, Revised June 2023)
- Standard 503 and Interpretation 503-3: Admission Test (January 2015, Revised June 2023, February 2025)
- Standard 509: Required Disclosures (July 2014, revised July 2016, December 2019, December 2022, and April 2024)
- Standard 510: Student Complaints Implicating Compliance with the Standards (March 2015; Revised January 2019, June 2023)
- Definition (7), Standards 304(a)(5), 304(d), 310: Field Placements as Distance Education Courses (November 2022)
Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools
Guidance for Schools Seeking ABA-Approval
Learn about the Law School Accreditation Process
Council Statements and Policies
Guidance Memos Archive
The Guidance Memos in the Archive are no longer in effect, but are provided for historical and/or research purposes. If the above Guidance Memos include updates to the originally issued Memo, the date of the original publication of the memo and subsequent edit(s) are included above.