ABA-Accredited Law Schools: Directory and Standards

What ABA Accreditation Means

Through its Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar — recognized by the US Department of Education as the national accreditor for professional law schools — the ABA approves law schools that meet its standards. Graduating from an ABA-approved school is what makes a candidate eligible to sit for the bar exam in every US jurisdiction. The ABA maintains the official directory of approved schools, including which ones offer approved distance-education J.D. programs.

The practical stakes are high. In nearly every US jurisdiction, graduating from an ABA-approved law school is what makes a person eligible to sit for the bar exam. A handful of states allow other paths — a state-accredited school, or in a few states a law-office apprenticeship — but those options limit where a graduate can practice. For most people, “is it ABA-approved?” is the first question to ask about any law school.

Are There ABA-Approved Online Law Schools?

This is the most common question, and the answer has been changing. Historically the ABA required most instruction to be in person and did not approve fully online JD programs. Over the past several years it has approved a growing number of distance-education JD programs at already-accredited schools, in which a substantial portion of the coursework is delivered online. So the honest phrasing is not “ABA-approved online law schools” but “accredited schools with ABA-approved distance JD programs.” The ABA maintains the official list of which schools have such programs, and it is the place to verify any online-heavy option.

The Accreditation Standards, Briefly

Accreditation is not a one-time stamp. Through its Council of the Section of Legal Education — recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as the national accreditor for law schools — the ABA applies a detailed set of standards covering the program of legal education, admissions, the faculty, the library and facilities, student services, and, increasingly, outcomes such as bar passage and employment. Schools go through a rigorous approval process and periodic review to keep their status. The point of all of it is to ensure that a degree from any approved school reliably prepares a graduate for licensure.

School Profiles: Case Western and Peers

The accredited universe spans household-name schools and strong regional ones alike. Case Western Reserve University School of Law, in Cleveland, is a representative example of a long-established, ABA-accredited school, and it is among the institutions that have developed an approved hybrid JD option combining online and on-campus study. It stands in for a broad category: reputable accredited schools that increasingly offer flexible formats without sacrificing accreditation. For the scholarly output of schools like these, see law review rankings and directory.

The Full List of ABA-Accredited Schools

There are roughly 200 ABA-approved law schools in the United States, and the exact number shifts as schools gain, lose, or relinquish approval. Rather than publish a list that would inevitably fall out of date — and that we could not keep verified — we point you to the ABA’s own official directory, which is authoritative and current. It lets you confirm a school’s status and see which schools carry approved distance-education programs.

Why Non-ABA Schools Are Risky

A non-ABA-accredited law school is not automatically a scam, but it carries real risk that deserves a clear-eyed look. Graduates of non-accredited schools generally cannot sit for the bar outside the specific state that authorizes their school, which sharply limits career mobility; some such programs also have lower bar-passage rates. Anyone considering a non-ABA option should understand exactly which state’s bar it qualifies them for and what happens if they later want to move. When in doubt, verify the school’s status directly with the ABA before enrolling.