ABA will not accredit UK law schools

The American Bar Association (ABA) has decided not to accredit foreign law schools, a decision that has been eagerly anticipated for nearly two years.

Reported in Legal Week, the ABA voted unanimously against the motion that would have seen foreign law schools that follow a similar model to the US version able to become accredited. Reasons for the resounding 'no' included that the move would divert resources at a time of "significant financial strain". University of Westminster's Professor John Flood called the decision "appalling".

However, College of Law Chief Executive Nigel Savage was feeling more positive about the decision: "[This] represents a great opportunity for the UK to outdo the US - the Solicitors Regulation Authority should focus now on making the English qualification more accessible globally, including to US students." He also commented that US state bar associations were still a good option for UK students, as reported in The Global Legal Post: "[Savage] pointed to recent moves by the New York state bar to accredit the College's GDL course, which means that for the first time those students will be eligible to sit the New York bar entrance exam." The American dream lives on…