The educational value of diversity is widely recognized in the higher education community and was affirmed in the law school setting by the Supreme Court in Grutter v. Bollinger. The Court recognized that diversity “enhances the classroom discussion and educational experience both inside and outside the classroom.” The Court also noted that “numerous studies show that diversity promotes learning outcomes, and ‘better prepares students for an increasingly diverse workforce and society, and better prepares them as professionals.’”

The Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, recognized by the United States Department of Education as the national accrediting agency of law schools, works to ensure that American law schools provide a sound legal education to their students. Fostering diversity in legal education has been part of this mandate and a core goal of the Council for many years. Since 1980, ABA Standards for the Approval of Law Schools have required law schools to demonstrate a “commitment to providing full opportunities for the study of law and entry into the legal profession” by members of minority groups.

The Council regularly reviews and revises the Standards, which law schools must meet to obtain and maintain ABA approval. As part of this regular review and mindful of the educational benefits of diversity, the Council in February, 2006, revised Standards 211 and 212, which relate to equal opportunity and diversity. The ABA’s policy-making body, the House of Delegates, concurred with the revised standards in August, 2006.

Below are links to resources about these standards. For more information, please contact Nancy Slonim at 312/988-6132.