The American Bar Association notified two more law schools — the University of Oregon and University of Kentucky — of noncompliance according to public notices posted in early March.
The University of Oregon School of Law is out of compliance with Standard 206(b), which states: “Consistent with sound educational policy and the Standards, a law school shall demonstrate by concrete action a commitment to diversity and inclusion by having a faculty and staff that are diverse with respect to gender, race and ethnicity.”
The non-compliance pertains to the school’s part-time or adjunct faculty. Oregon Law has been asked to submit a report by June 30 and to appear before the ABA council at its November meeting. The Council will consider the written report during a meeting in August, according to the public notice posted on March 13.
The University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law is not in compliance with an accreditation standard that pertains to finances, according to a public notice posted on March 7.
The school is out of compliance with Standard 202(a), which requires law schools’ current and anticipated resources available to be sufficient to carry out a legal education program and operate in compliance with the standards.
The school was also asked to submit a report by June 30.
“This is part of the ongoing accreditation process with the ABA,” said Jay Blanton, a spokesperson for the school in an email to the National Jurist. “We are in compliance with all standards – there are several – but for a standard related to aspects of the college’s budget plan. The college remains fully accredited and there is no impact on students or the outstanding legal education provided. Indeed, our students go on to serve as preeminent lawyers, policymakers, judges and business leaders across the state.”
“As we continue that legacy of excellence, we will submit a detailed plan to the ABA in June that is responsive to their questions regarding this one standard,” he continued.
The school received a $20 million donation from J. David Rosenberg, a senior partner at Keating Muething & Klekamp, in 2019. Since then the school has had major renovations on its building and a growth in scholarship opportunities.
In addition, the Golden Gate University School of Law, which hasn’t had a two-year bar pass rate at or above 75% since its class of 2017, has received a 3-year extension to come into compliance with Standard 316, which requires a bar passage rate of at least 75% within a two-year time period.
