They might be abusing it look at the tuition increases over the last 5 years.
http://www.lsac.org/LSACResources/Publications/official-guide-archives.aspJust a few examples, but every ABA school follows this pattern.
Albany in 2007 cost 32,360 per year it has gone up steadily each year and currenlty the price tag is 39,050. In 3 years the tuition went up 6,690 or 20%. I am sure nothing changed at Albany they just keep increasing the tuition because what can anyone do.
Cardozo 34,850 per year in 2007 in 2010 42,570 another 20% increase in tuition.
Franklin Pierce Law Center 27,300 per year in 2007 and only up to 33,280 in 2007 smaller number, but the increase is roughly 20% again.
The list can go on and on all law school in 3 years have gone up 20% in tuition costs and do not seem to be stopping anytime soon. You have to go to an ABA school to be a lawyer and they are already overcharging and continue to do so. I would consider it an abuse unless schools of course schools did an actual accounting and justified the expenditures. It is very possible the price increases are legitamite, but I have been to every Bay Area school and for schools to be charging what they do I should have a personal assistant and a private 24 k gold bathroom. I have neither and I don't of any school that provides these services that would justify the costs. So that being said I think someone could sue the ABA for an anti-trust violation it is a monopoly and the price hikes are abusive.
I like my school and law school in general, but this seems like a clear abuse of power to me by the schools and nobody questions it. All my concerns would go away if schools did an accounting and justified their costs LSAC has required schools to report how much schools spend on their library so it is a start, but it is roughly a 1,000,000 at each school that does not account for the approximately 18,000,000 each school receives in tution money. I based 18,000,000 on an estimated 30,000 a year tuition and 600 students at any given school. So if a school is receiving 18,000,000 and spends 1,000,000 on their library & staff. Where is the other 17,000,000 mil going a few professors, property taxes, etc, but I feel like someone or a few people are getting absurdly wealthy at every school and continue to get wealthier by hiking law school prices.