The ABA Council on Legal Education posted for Notice and Comment significant changes to the accreditation standards relating to the program of legal education, mandatory institution of an outcomes and assessment regime, and the status of and retention of faculty. Many of these proposed changes have been discussed in earlier posts in this BLOG for going on four years. I have copied here the memorandum discussing the notice and comment. WHAT SAY OUR READERS???
MEMORANDUM
TO: Interested Persons and Entities
FROM: The Hon. Solomon Oliver, Jr., Council Chairperson
Barry A. Currier, Managing Director of Accreditation and Legal Education
DATE: September 6, 2013
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Review of the ABA Standards for Approval of Law School Matters for Notice and Comment
At its meeting held on August 8-9, 2013, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar approved for Notice and Comment proposed revisions to Chapter 1 [General Purposes and Practices], Chapter 3 [Program of Legal Education], Chapter 4 [The Faculty], Standard 203(b) [Dean], and Standard 603(d) [Director of the Law Library] of the ABA Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools.
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:
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/notice_and_comment.html.
We solicit and encourage written comments on the proposed changes by letter or e-mail. Written comments should be submitted no later than Friday, January 31, 2014.
Hearings on these proposed changes are scheduled for October 2013 and February 2014 (details below). Both hearings will be held at the American Bar Association, 321 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654.
October 21-22, 2013
Monday, October 21st, 1 p.m.
Tuesday, October 22nd, 9 a.m.
February 5-6, 2014
Wednesday, February 5th, 1 p.m.
Thursday, February 6th, 9 a.m.
Please address written comments on the proposal and requests to speak at the hearing to JR Clark, jr.clark@americanbar.org.
Thank you.
Barry A. Currier
Managing Director of Accreditation and Legal Education
Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60654-7958
Filed under: Best Practices & Curriculum, Best Practices for Institutional Effectiveness, Catalysts For Change | Tagged: ABA, ABA STANDARDS REVIEW, CLINICAL LEGAL EDUCATION; LAW FACULTY, COUNCIL ON LEGAL EDUCATION, higher education, law schools, legal education reform, LEGAL PROFESSION CHANGES |
Best Practices for Legal Education 