Before I get to the legal education update, I just want to say it’s my goal from this point to keep the blog up and running. The transition back to the classroom this year has been a bit hectic, along with new responsibilities in the ABA and state. I’ll bring you up to speed on it all, but I really want to share with you the news from the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar. I am now a member of the Section’s Council, having been elected last August, and as you might know, this is a time of uncertainty and transition in legal education.

The Council met in Tempe Arizona recently, and had before it a pretty full  agenda. The Section of Legal Ed. is responsible for th  I want to call your attention though, to the notice and comment period for promulgating the ABA Standards and
Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools. The Section’s accreditation authority is granted by the U.S. Department of Education. The Standards Review Committee of the Section has been conducting a comprehensive review of the Standards. As part of that review, the Committee considered multiple drafts and received informal comments from many interested persons and entities. The proposed revisions and accompanying explanations are attached below and published on the Section’s website.  At the March 2013 meeting, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar approved for Notice and Comment proposed revisions to Chapter 2 (Organization and Administration) and Chapter 5 (Admissions and Student Services). If you are interested, I encourage you to review and submit your thoughts to us on the proposed revisions.

There is also important news in terms of Section leadership. The Consultant on Legal Education is ABA staff member who leads the Section staff. That positions has undergone a name change and Barry Currier has been named the managing director of accreditation and legal education at the American Bar Association.

That’s just a bit about what’s going on, but you can read the most recent newsletter here.

Stay tuned. More news and info to follow….