ABA Accreditation
Importance of ABA Accreditation
American Bar Association (ABA) approval is a critical requirement for any law school.
On June 9, 2008, Charlotte School of Law was provisionally approved by the ABA.
“A student at a provisionally approved law school and an individual who graduates
while the school is provisionally approved are entitled to the same recognition
given to students and graduates of fully approved law schools.” Interpretation
102-4 of the ABA Standards. Graduates from an ABA provisionally approved law school
are qualified to sit for the bar examination in nearly every state.
Required Disclaimer
Charlotte School of Law has been provisionally approved by the Council of the Section
of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association since
June 2008. The Section of Legal Education may be contacted at 321 North Clark Street,
Chicago, IL 60610 or by phone at 312/988-6738.
What ABA Provisional Approval Means
Every law school commences the ABA Accreditation Process by first seeking provisional
approval. Students who graduate from ABA provisionally approved schools are deemed
to have graduated from an ‘accredited’ school and are eligible to sit
for the bar examination in almost every state. Determinations of the qualifications
to sit for the bar examination are made by the jurisdiction’s bar admission
authorities. In the language of the ABA standards: ‘A student at a provisionally
accredited law school and an individual who graduates while the school is provisionally
approved are entitled to the same recognition given to student graduates of fully
approved law schools’ (Standard 102). “An individual who matriculates
at a law school that is provisionally approved . . . and who completes the course
of study and graduates from that school within a typical and reasonable period of
time is deemed . . . to be a graduate of an approved law school, even though the
school loses its provisional approval status while the individual is enrolled in
the school.” Interpretation 102-10 of the ABA Standards. Charlotte School
of Law is committed to doing everything it can to ensure we obtain the status of
a fully approved law school at the earliest possible moment.
CharlotteLaw’s Preparation for ABA Accreditation Review
Provisionally approved schools have at least five years after provisional approval
to qualify for full ABA approval. During this period the ABA will continue to review
Charlotte School of Law’s progress. As a part of the full approval process
Charlotte School of Law will submit documentation that will focus on critical areas
of the School’s development. In addition, the ABA will conduct regular site
visits. As Charlotte School of Law moves forward with the accreditation process,
it will draw upon the experience of its ownership executives. As a third generation
undertaking, CharlotteLaw benefits from a strong financial position and the experience
of leadership that includes persons who have created Fortune 500 companies and other
successful organizations including two ABA approved law schools, Florida Coastal
School of Law and Phoenix School of Law.
CharlotteLaw has received and will continue to receive input and counsel from accreditation
consultants. ABA accreditation is a high institutional priority. So too is the "market
accreditation" necessary to establish CharlotteLaw as a leader in its field. Consistent
with the spirit of Standard 104 of the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools,
CharlotteLaw will "seek to exceed the minimum requirements of the Standards." This
orientation is critical not only to attaining full accreditation on a timely basis,
but building an institution that has legacy value and which will establish the Charlotte
School of Law as a regional center of excellence.
Critical Milestones
- From the beginning: Charlotte School of Law develops a plan for accreditation
- Spring 07: CharlotteLaw requests ABA Accreditation Site Visit; applies for provisional
approval
- Fall 07: ABA Accreditation Team visits CharlotteLaw
- Spring 08: ABA review of report; makes recommendation
- Summer 08: Charlotte School of Law is provisionally approved
- Fall 08: ABA Site Visit to chart Charlotte School of Law progress
- Fall 09: ABA Site Visit
- Fall 2010: ABA Site Visit
- Summer 2011: Charlotte School of Law Eligible for Full Approval (anticipated)