Number of Law Schools

As of February 2008 , a total of 198 institutions are ABA-approved: 197 confer the first degree in law (the J.D. degree); the other ABA approved school is the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's School, which offers an officer's resident graduate course, a specialized program beyond the first degree in law. Nine of the 198 law schools are provisionally approved.

Provisionally Approved Law Schools (+):

+Charleston School of Law
+Drexel University College of Law
+Faulkner University Thomas Goode Jones School of Law
+Florida A&M University College of Law
+University of LaVerne College of Law
+Liberty University School of Law
+John Marshall Law School (Atlanta)
+Phoenix School of Law
+Western State University College of Law

Law Schools on Probation (**):

At its meeting on August 4-5, 2005, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar determined to extend the probationary period for Whittier Law School, located in Costa Mesa, California, until February 15, 2009.

**Whittier Law School

Rating of Law Schools

No rating of law schools beyond the simple statement of their accreditation status is attempted or advocated by the official organizations in legal education. Qualities that make one kind of school good for one student may not be as important to another. The American Bar Association and its Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar have issued disclaimers of any law school rating system. Prospective law students should consider a variety of factors in making their choice among schools.