At its August annual meeting, the American Bar Association (ABA) House of Delegates reapproved the Illinois State University Legal Studies program. This marks the third time the ABA impressed its seal of approval on the program.
The ABA paralegal education approval system is the only national program providing independent verification of quality. Approval is broadly recognized as a credential of quality. Less than one-third of 690 nationwide paralegal programs are ABA-approved.
To be re-approved, the ISU program submitted an extensive application, which was reviewed by ABA staff, an educational consultant, and a two-person team that visited campus earlier this year. Among other things, the ABA reviewed the educational program, assessment, library resources, faculty, admissions, student services, physical plant, and advisory committee actions.
Professor Tom McClure, the director of Legal Studies, commented that, “American Bar Association approval is the gold standard in paralegal education. Many law firms will not even consider applicants unless they have a certificate from an ABA-approved program. Our program has thrived since its initial ABA approval thanks to the strong support of the Department of Politics and Government and the College of Arts and Sciences.”
