ABA Vs. State Accredited Law Schools...

[cbethun1]

If I plan on practicing law in my own state, and I decide/or I'm forced to go to a state accredited Law School(ie.  John Marshall Law School-Atlanta), what are the major differences in ABA vs. Non-ABA approved other than practicing in other states?

[jeffjoe]

the major difference is that a JD from an ABA approved school allows you to take the bar in any state.  Non-ABA JDs are limited -- usually -- to a single state.

Other than that, the differences can be as varied as schools are.

[highball]

When I got my engineering degree, my particular program was not ABET certified.  In the engineering world, acredidation is done on a subject by subject basis, not the whole school.  The consequence of not having ABET approve the program would be 8 years vs. 4 years of professional work to satisfy the experience requirement to get your license to practice.  The school worked like MAD to get the program certified and they were ultimately successful.  Acredidation by the main sanctioning body of a professional field is HUGE in my opinion.  My lord, why spend the expense and time requirement to go to a non-ABA school when you can just as likely find a Tier-4 somewhere to take you.  You only do law school once, maximize what you're getting out of it.  If you can ONLY get into a non-ABA, you shouldn't be a lawyer IMO.  That would suggest you can't get into Cooley, and Cooley would accept Corky from that TV show back in the day.

[lawgirl]

"If you can ONLY get into a non-ABA, you shouldn't be a lawyer IMO.  That would suggest you can't get into Cooley, and Cooley would accept Corky from that TV show back in the day."


That comment was uncalled for.

[zemog]

I heard that if you graduate from a non-aba school but practice 5 years in your state, then you can then sit on the bar in any state. 

the major difference is that a JD from an ABA approved school allows you to take the bar in any state.  Non-ABA JDs are limited -- usually -- to a single state.

Other than that, the differences can be as varied as schools are.

[jeffjoe]

It varies from state to state.  It depends on the relationship between the state and Tennessee.  Some states will not let non-ABA JD's practice ever.

Some require 3 years, others 5, 7 and some even 10 years.

I heard that if you graduate from a non-aba school but practice 5 years in your state, then you can then sit on the bar in any state. 

the major difference is that a JD from an ABA approved school allows you to take the bar in any state.  Non-ABA JDs are limited -- usually -- to a single state.

Other than that, the differences can be as varied as schools are.