The legal association had been the sole accreditor for attorneys’ educational options.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently endorsed the Florida Supreme Court’s decision to remove the American Bar Association’s (ABA) status as the lone accrediting agency. That position allowed the association to dictate the educational requirements for the bar exam and to be licensed to practice law in the state.
The FTC explained, “Previously, to be eligible to take the Florida bar exam, applicants had to obtain their legal education from a law school ‘approved by the American Bar Association,’ making the ABA the gatekeeper for Florida bar eligibility. The Florida Supreme Court action extends accreditation authority to certain types of accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and, where appropriate, approved by the court.”
The directors of the Office of Policy Planning and Bureau of Competition sent a letter to the state court, endorsing its decision to “create the opportunity for additional entities to carry out an accrediting and gatekeeping function” and concurred with its conclusion that the previous rule was “not in Floridians’ best interest.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For officials in the FTC and its offices as they seek to ensure competition and prevent monopolies in a variety of industries, including the practice of law.
- For federal, state, and local judges as they consider challenges to established practices and their constitutionality.
Sources: Federal Trade Commission
