The American Bar Association has suspended law school diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements.
The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted during a meeting in San Antonio on Friday to end the requirement until August 31 while it reviews the policy.
The change comes as President Donald Trump has vowed to gut all government programs with DEI policies.
Daniel Thies, chair-elect of the council and co-chair of its Strategic Review Committee, told the ABA Journal that the changes were due to Trump’s executive orders.
“The committee’s view is that with the executive orders and the law being in flux, it would be an extreme hardship for law schools if our standards were to require them to do certain things that may cause them to take more litigation risks and potentially violate the law,” Thies said, according to the ABA Journal.
The ABA Journal reports:
In addition, the council’s standard committee will take a new look at Standard 205, titled “Non‐Discrimination and Equality of Opportunity,” said Carla D. Pratt, chair of the Strategic Review Committee. But its enforcement was not suspended. Also, no action was recommended regarding Standard 303-C, which requires law schools to provide education related to cultural competence, racism and bias.
The section’s council is recognized by the Department of Education as the sole accrediting body for U.S. law schools and is an independent arm of the ABA for that function. Most states require applicants of the state bar to be graduates of an ABA-accredited law school.
Attorney General Pam Bondi has called the decision a “victory for common sense.”
Yesterday, the American Bar Association voted to suspend enforcement of Standard 206 – a DEI requirement for the student bodies and faculties of law schools.
This is a victory for common sense. We are bringing meritocracy back to the legal system.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) February 22, 2025
“Yesterday, the American Bar Association voted to suspend enforcement of Rule 206 – a DEI requirement for the student bodies and faculties of law schools,” Bondi wrote on X. “This is a victory for common sense! We are bringing meritocracy back to the legal system.”
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