The ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is poised to roll back more of its diversity rules this summer, with two proposals potentially up for a vote in August that would reshape law school requirements on bias training and non-discrimination policies.
What could be changing?
Bias training: The ABA could eliminate a 2022 rule requiring law schools to educate students about bias, racism and cross-cultural competency at the start and end of their studies.
Non-discrimination policies: The ABA is considering paring down a detailed rule that requires law schools to maintain non-discrimination policies covering protected groups — including race, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability — in favor of a simpler requirement that schools prohibit discrimination "in violation of applicable federal, state, and local law."
What's the public reaction?
Mixed. During a public comment period that ended Monday, the ABA received 15 letters opposing the elimination of the bias training rule and nine in support. The non-discrimination rule proposal yielded 10 comments in favor of retaining the requirement and two favoring its elimination.
Why now?
The ABA has faced mounting pressure from the Trump administration and some state supreme courts to scale back DEI efforts. In May, its law school council scrapped a rule requiring schools to show commitment to diversity in recruitment and admissions, despite objections from legal academics and advocacy groups.
Karen Sloan has more here.
