History
In 1921, the American Bar Association promulgated its first Standards for Legal Education. At the same time, the ABA began to publish a list of ABA-approved law schools that met the ABA Standards. From 1926 to 1935, this information was published as A Review of Legal Education by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement and Teaching and edited by Afred Z. Reed. In 1935, the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar undertook responsibility for the publication with data collection provided by the National Conference of Bar Examiners. The Review of Legal Education continued to be published in that format until 1973 when the Standards were published separately in the ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure.
Standards Updates
2023-2024
Cover Memo on Revised Definitions, Standards, and Rules (February 2024)
Redline and Clean Versions of Revised Definitions, Standards, and Rules (February 2024)
2022-2023
Revisions Effective for February and August 2023
Revisions Effective September 2022
2021-2022
Revisions Effective February 2022
Revisons Effective August 2022
2020-2021
Revisions to the Print Edition
2019-2020
Revisions to the 2019-2020 Edition as of June 2020
Changes to the Bylaws
Revisions to the 2019-2020 Edition as of February 2020
Changes to the Standards
Changes to the Rules
Revisions to the 2019-2020 Edition as of November 2019
Changes to Internal Operating Practices Required by New Department of Education Regulations
Revisions to the 2019-2020 Edition as of August 2019
Criteria for Programs Offered by ABA-Approved Law Schools in a Location Outside the United States
Criteria for Programs Offered by ABA-Approved Law Schools in a Location Outside the United States - REDLINED
Notice Regarding Criteria for Programs Offered by ABA-Approved Law Schools in a Location Outside the United States
2019
Revised Standard 316
2018
Adoption and Implementation of Revised ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools
2017
Adoption and Implementation of Revised ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools
2016
Adoption and Implementation of Revised Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools
2015
Explanation of 2015 Revisions to the Standards
2014Implementation of New Standards and Rules for Approval of Law Schools
Revised Memo on Compliance with Standard 509 (July 2014)
Council Acts on ABA Law School Approval Standards
2013
Compliance with Revised Standard 509
2012
Standard 509 (Consumer Information), Rule 16 (Sanctions) and Foreign Program Criteria (August 2012)
Information on New Standard 509
2011
Standards 105, 306, 512 and Rules 20, 24 (August 2011)
Changes Approved for Statement of Ethical Practices in the Process of Law School Accreditation(March 2011)
Standard 509, Rules 10, 22, 24 (February 2011)
2010
Revisions to Criteria for Approval of Study Abroad Programs Approved (August 2010)