ABA Finds UDC And WNE Law Schools Out Of Compliance With Accreditation Standards

The council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has informed two law schools — University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and Western New England University School of Law — that they are out of compliance with accreditation standards:

University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law:
At its August 22-24, 2019, meeting, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) considered the status of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (the “Law School”) and concluded that the Law School is not in compliance with Standard 501(b) ["A law school shall only admit applicants who appear capable of satisfactorily completing its program of legal education and being admitted to the bar."] and Interpretation 501-1 ["Among the factors to consider in assessing compliance with this Standard are the academic and admission test credentials of the law school’s entering students, the academic attrition rate of the law school's students, the bar passage rate of its graduates, and the effectiveness of the law school's academic support program. Compliance with Standard 316 is not alone sufficient to comply with the Standard."].

Western New England University School of Law:
At its August 22-24, 2019, meeting, the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar of the American Bar Association (the “Council”) considered the status of the Western New England University School of Law (the “Law School”) and concluded that the Law School is not in compliance with Standard 202(a) ["The current and anticipated financial resources available to the law school shall be sufficient for it to operate in compliance with the Standards and to carry out its program of legal education."] and (d) ["A law school is not in compliance with the Standards if its anticipated financial condition is reasonably expected to have a negative and material effect on the school’s ability to operate in compliance with the Standards or to carry out its program of legal education."].

For responses of UDC Dean Renée McDonald Hutchins and Western New England Dean Sudha Setty, see:

• ABA Journal, Law School Deans Recently Hit With Noncompliance Notice Say They Can Show Standards Are Met
• Above the Law, Law Schools Fight Back Following Accreditation Woes

Update:  Post corrected to quote accreditation standard 202.