Resolution 5
Regarding Accreditation of Legal Education in Common Law Countries by the ABA Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar

WHEREAS, the Conference of Chief Justices urged the American Bar Association (ABA) Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar (the Section) in February 2007 to consider developing and implementing a program to certify the quality of the legal education offered by universities in other common-law countries; and

WHEREAS, in subsequent meetings with the Section, the CCJ Task Force on Foreign Lawyers and the International Practice of Law expressed interest in a regime that certified legal education in other countries combined with LL.M. programs as a reliable basis for authorizing non-U.S. trained lawyers to sit for state bar examinations; and

WHEREAS, in response, the Section appointed a Special Committee on International Issues to examine the feasibility of certifying the quality of legal education offered by universities in other countries combined with an LL.M. program meeting certain requirements; and

WHEREAS, the Special Committee on International Issues has concluded that assessing the quality of legal education in other countries is beyond the capacity of the Section;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Conference of Chief Justices thanks the ABA Section on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar and rescinds its February 2007 resolution, concluding that certification arrangements assessing both foreign and domestic education of applicants is the most suitable basis for authorizing applicants to sit for the bar examination.

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