To the Bench, Bar, and Public:
The Indiana Rules for Admission to the Bar and the Discipline of Attorneys provide that only graduates of law schools on the approved list of the Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar are eligible for admission to the Indiana bar.
Purdue University is requesting that Indiana allow graduates of the Concord Law School at Purdue University Global to take the Indiana bar exam. Although Concord is accredited by the State Bar of California, it is not eligible for ABA accreditation because it is a completely online law school, among other reasons. In conjunction with its request, Purdue has proposed amendments to the Rules for Admission to the Bar and the Discipline of Attorneys that will allow graduates of non-ABA accredited law schools to sit for the Indiana bar exam. However, the law school must be accredited by one or more state, regional, or national bodies that specifically accredit law schools AND operated by or affiliated with a state educational institution whose legal education program/degree has been approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. Concord Law School is currently the only law school that falls within this category.
Following preliminary consideration of Purdue’s request, the Supreme Court established the Purdue University Global Concord Law School Working Group to evaluate the matter and report back to the Court with its findings and recommendations.
View the Working Group's Report
The Working Group's report was sent to Purdue University and the Concord Law School at Purdue University Global because of their initial request. The Counsel for Purdue University and the Dean of the Concord Law School submitted a response to the Working Group's recommendations.
View the Response to the Working Group's Report
The Indiana Supreme Court seeks public comment on the following proposed amendments to the Indiana Rules of Court, so that the Court may consider the proposed rule change, including whether the Court will pursue this on a provisional basis.
Rules for Admission to the Bar and the Discipline of Attorneys
The proposed amendments to the Admission and Discipline Rules would allow graduates of non-ABA accredited law schools to sit for the Indiana bar exam. However, the law school must be accredited by one or more state, regional, or national bodies that specifically accredit law schools AND operated by or affiliated with a state educational institution whose legal education program/degree has been approved by the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.
Proposed changes to Admission and Discipline Rules
Feedback
The Court invited public comment on the proposed amendments until noon on Friday, April 21. The comment period is now closed.
Comments submitted by other means, including those sent directly to court staff, will not be considered. The Supreme Court’s Office of Admissions and Continuing Education will review each public comment received. The Supreme Court then determines whether to accept the proposed amendment, reject it, rewrite it themselves, or refer it to the Office of Admissions and Continuing Education for additional study. This process can take several months. If a rule amendment is accepted, the Court will issue an order amending the rules.