Committee Descriptions
Accreditation
This committee is charged with the administration of the ABA accreditation
process, including review of site evaluation reports, progress reports,
and fact finding reports. It reviews J.D. programs, post-J.D. programs,
foreign summer programs, semester abroad programs, cooperative programs
for foreign study and individual student programs for foreign study.
Adjunct
Faculty
This
committee provides a forum for law schools to discuss ways to better
recruit, train, mentor and supervise adjunct faculty, and to provide
a locus within the Section for discussion of issues that are of particular
interest to adjunct faculty.
Bar
Admissions
This committee relates to the second part of the Section’s responsibility
-- bar admissions. Composed of bar examiners and administrators, legal
educators, supreme court judges and bar examiners, it serves as the
principal interface between the Council and the National Conference of
Bar Examiners. Current topics under consideration relate to character
and fitness, bar admission requirements, and foreign-trained law graduates.
Clinical Skills
This committee reviews, disseminates and makes recommendations with
respect to the role of skills training in law schools including programs
of instruction and the status of teachers. Membership of the committee
is comprised of clinical and non-clinical faculty, judges and practicing
lawyers.
Communication
Skills
This
committee examines and promotes effective communication skills, prepares
materials for dissemination to law schools and the practicing bar,
and plans programs on current issues relating to communication skills.
Curriculum
This committee collects and reviews innovative curriculum programs
and prepares materials for dissemination to law schools currently studying
curricular change.
Deans'
Workshop
The chairperson is responsible for planning the annual Deans’
Workshop held during the midwinter meeting of the ABA.
Diversity
This committee is charged with developing suggestions and strategies
for greater diversity in American legal education in furtherance of
the aims of Standards 211,212, and 213.
Report from the
Section's Diversity Committee 1998
Government
Relations and Student Financial Aid
This committee monitors Congressional legislation and executive directives
affecting legal education. It works closely with the ABA Washington
Office and cooperates with the Joint Task Force on Student Financial
Aid.
Graduate
Legal Education
This committee is charged with developing guidelines and criteria
for review of post-J.D. legal education including suggestions for
possible interpretations of Standard 307. The committee coordinates
its efforts with the Accreditation Committee.
Grievance
Pursuant to the Statement of Ethical Practices in the Process of Law
School Accreditation this committee reviews complaints filed against
Council members, Committee members, staff members at the Consultant’s
Office, and Site Team Evaluators.
Independent
Law Schools Forum
The forum is composed of the deans of all free-standing and quasi-free
standing law schools. It reviews common problems and concerns
and periodically conducts workshops for law school staff members.
Kutak
Award
This committee receives nominations and determines a nominee for the
Section’s Annual Kutak Award. The Award is presented annually
to a “candidate who meets the highest standard of professional
responsibility and demonstrates substantial achievement toward increased
understanding between legal education and the active practice of law.”
It honors the late Robert J. Kutak, a distinguished member of the
Section’s Council.
Law
Libraries
This committee reviews matters relating to law libraries including
periodic review of the Standards relating to law libraries and the
law library section of the annual questionnaire and site evaluation
questionnaire. Membership includes law librarians and law school deans
and faculty.
Law
School Administration
This committee supports associate/assistant deans of law schools and presents the biennial Associate Deans Conference.
Law
School Development
This committee prepares materials relating to law school development
and undertakes planning and administration of a highly successful
conference on law school development which brings together law school
deans, faculty and development officers.
Law
School Facilities
The Law School Facilities Committee supports the efforts of law schools
planning for new construction or renovation of their buildings. The
Committee last sponsored a national conference on March 23-25, 2006 in Seattle, Washington.2006 Conference
. The committee's Web page draws together a number of resources
that schools can use in facilities planning. The programs for past
conferences and other resources can be found at www.abanet.org/legaled/committees/bricks-bytes/bricks-bytes.html.
New
Deans' Seminar
This committee coordinates in-depth seminars for new deans just beginning
their deanship, held each June.
Nominating
In accordance with the By-Laws of the Section, this committee receives
suggestions and makes nominations for Section Officers and members
of the Council.
Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian serves at the annual meeting of the Section.
Pre-Law
This committee works with regional conferences of pre-law admissions
officers to promote accurate and current information about legal education
to those interested in attending law school.
Professionalism
This committee is charged to review the role of law schools in instilling
law students with a sense of professionalism during their law school
study.
Questionnaire
This committee is responsible for reviewing all law school informational
questionnaires and instructions for recommending changes to minimize
the duplication of requested information and to meet the accreditation
and other needs of law school data.
Standards Review
This committee is charged with reviewing proposed changes in or additions
to Standards, Interpretations, Rules, Policies, Procedures and Criteria.
Proposed changes are referred to the committee by the Council for
its review and recommendations.
Standards for Approval
of Law Schools and Interpretations
Technology and Education
This committee is charged with keeping abreast of technology advancements
and how they relate to legal education
