The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has endorsed the Texas Supreme Court’s proposal to eliminate the requirement that bar applicants graduate from American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited law schools. In a letter to the court, the FTC criticized the ABA’s accreditation process, describing it as a “monopoly” that inflates legal education costs and restricts the number of practicing lawyers. The agency argued that the ABA’s control over law school accreditation creates anti-competitive conditions that harm consumers by limiting the supply of lawyers while driving up legal costs. ([news.bloomberglaw.com](https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/ftc-backs-texas-bid-to-end-aba-control-over-law-school-rules?utm_source=openai))
The Texas Supreme Court’s proposed amendment would transfer the authority to approve law schools from the ABA to the court itself. This move is part of a broader trend, with states like Florida and Ohio also reconsidering their reliance on the ABA for law school accreditation. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/ftc-says-aba-is-law-school-accreditation-monopoly-2025-12-02/?utm_source=openai))
In response to these developments, the ABA has announced a comprehensive review of its law school accreditation standards. This review may lead to the elimination of certain requirements, including the diversity and inclusion standard, which has been suspended since February. ([reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/aba-review-law-school-standards-may-drop-diversity-rule-amid-pressure-2025-11-17/?utm_source=openai))
While the FTC and some state courts advocate for reducing the ABA’s role in law school accreditation, several Texas law deans have expressed concern. They warn that removing the ABA accreditation requirement could harm students, the legal profession, and the mobility of law graduates. ([jdjournal.com](https://www.jdjournal.com/2025/07/08/texas-law-deans-warn-dropping-aba-accreditation-requirement-would-harm-students-legal-profession-and-mobility/?utm_source=openai))
The Texas Supreme Court has invited public comments on the proposed amendments, with changes expected to take effect on January 1, 2026. ([txcourts.gov](https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1461357/259070.pdf?utm_source=openai))