Thanks to an announcement made last month, it sounds like graduates of non-ABA approved law schools will eventually have more options when it comes to choosing a jurisdiction to practice in. The Minnesota Supreme Court signaled that it intends to allow some graduates of law schools not accredited by the American Bar Association to take the Minnesota Bar Exam.
In response to a petition filed with the Court in April 2009 and review of the Board of Bar Examiners’ report on this petition, the Court determined that it will consider an amendment to the Rules for Admission to the Bar that would permit a licensed attorney who has successfully practiced law in another U.S. jurisdiction for a substantial number of years to sit for the Minnesota bar exam despite having not graduated from ABA accredited law school.
The Board must file the proposed rule amendment with the Court by Sept. 30, 2010, and then it will be scheduled for public comment and hearing.
What do you think about these possible changes? How does it affect graduates of non-ABA approved law schools? What are its affects on the goal to establish an education standard, competency, bar admission, and the current job market? Share your comments!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I think this is a step in the right direction. Let the marketplace of jobs determine where a law school graduate ends up with his/her career. The exams at the law schools are plenty tough enough that paying the extremely high exam prep prices and state bar exam prices contributes to the monopoly of the ABA. The exams are not very relevant i.e. examining a case, spotting issues, determining arguments, quoting relevant law, and small conclusion within 40 minutes or less. Not a real life scenario by any stretch of the imagination.
India, as far as I have observed, has now gone to a more objective bar exam. 100 multiple choice questions, and open book exams. Now we are talking more realistic and not being subjected to a bar examiner’s prejudices.
Think about all the unethical lawyers and politicians that have passed the bar exams, yet have not proven character development. Also, there are more careers outside the courtroom that are being stifled by the bar requirements. The ABA and the Bar Exams have not shown correlation between good lawyers and the passing of the Bar! But, it remains a good profit-center for the many states, and so again, there goes the integrity of the profession!