American Bar Association disbands with DEI accreditation requirement for law schools

The American Bar Association (ABA) Council, which oversees law school accreditation, has voted to eliminate the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirement for law schools to demonstrate their commitment to diversity in admissions.

The council voted on Friday to end the standard, which had already been suspended since February 2025, after the Trump administration targeted DEI initiatives at colleges shortly after taking office. The change must still be considered by the ABA’s House of Delegates, which is expected to debate revisions before the elimination could take effect in 2027.

"Even though I personally agree with [the diversity and inclusion standard] and what it tries to achieve, I think it's appropriate as an ​accrediting body that we eliminate that standard so we don't inhibit the diversity of ideas out there in ​various types of legal education environments," said council member David Brennan, according to Reuters.

For decades, the ABA’s accreditation rules have supported efforts within the legal profession to increase representation of non-whites and women. However, in April 2025, President Trump issued an executive order directing Education Secretary Linda McMahon to assess either the suspension or termination of the ABA as the official accreditor in law schools, citing the DEI requirement as “unlawful.”

Several Republican-led states, such as Texas, Florida, and Alabama, have already removed the ABA from portions of their lawyer licensing processes, while other states have been considering similar actions.

Additionally, the ​ABA's Council of ⁠the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar has voted to seek public comments on the elimination of a separate 2022 rule that requires law schools to educate students on topics such as bias and racism.