The Tennessee Supreme Court has amended Rule 7 to broaden the criteria for law school accreditation, allowing graduates from institutions accredited by entities other than the American Bar Association (ABA) to qualify for the state bar examination. This change introduces the concept of an “Approved Accreditor,” defined as an entity authorized by the Court to accredit or approve law schools. The Tennessee Board of Law Examiners will publish a list of such approved accreditors through its policies. ([barsacross.com](https://www.barsacross.com/tennessee-law-school-accreditation-rules-expand-beyond-aba?utm_source=openai))
Currently, the Council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar remains the sole accreditor on the Board’s list. However, the revised rule establishes a framework for recognizing additional accrediting bodies in the future. ([barsacross.com](https://www.barsacross.com/tennessee-law-school-accreditation-rules-expand-beyond-aba?utm_source=openai))
This development aligns Tennessee with states like Alabama, Florida, Ohio, and Texas, which have also moved away from exclusive reliance on ABA accreditation. These changes occur amid ongoing discussions about the ABA’s diversity, equity, and inclusion standards, which were suspended in early 2025. ([insidehighered.com](https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2026/10/07/tennessee-drops-aba-accreditation-requirement?utm_source=openai))
In addition to modifying accreditation requirements, the Tennessee Supreme Court has announced that the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (UBE) will replace the current version starting in July 2027. The passing standard for the NextGen UBE in Tennessee has been set at 620. ([tnble.org](https://tnble.org/announcements/tennessee-supreme-court-announces-passing-standard-for-nextgen-ube/?utm_source=openai))
These reforms reflect Tennessee’s commitment to adapting its legal education and licensure processes to evolving standards and needs within the legal profession.