Law school working towards permanent accreditation

The FAMU College of Law is working toward becoming a full member of the American Bar Association (ABA).

A recent “confidential” report from the American Bar Association revealed that the College of Law is dealing with some challenges, but that same report also highlighted a number of positive developments at the College of Law. Among the positives cited were the appointment of FAMU President James H. Ammons and new Dean LeRoy Pernell.

According to Pernell, who started work in January 2008, this report refers to a site team visit and assessment gathered prior to October 2007.

“We made tremendous progress since the October 2007 visit,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “We are committed to providing the College of Law with the resources and support it needs to achieve permanent accreditation.”

The report released in March noted, “he [Ammons] is strongly committed to the success of the Law School and to removing the previous barriers to a positive working relationships between the University and the Law School.”

Other improvements outlined in the report are:

• The hiring of several new faculty members for the upcoming 2008-2009 academic year;
• Three lawsuits that were resolved in favor of the College of Law;
• Beginning with the class entering in the fall 2008, Ammons has authorized 12 merit-based, renewable, full tuition waivers
scholarships for high achievement admitted recruits, plus 3 merit-based, full tuition wavier scholarships for Bethune
Cookman University graduates;
• Since the arrival of the new assistant dean for admissions and financial aid in May 2007, the College of Law has
sponsored a number of events designed to target both admitted and prospective students; and
• During the 2007-2008 academic year, the College of Law implemented a comprehensive academic support and bar preparation
program.

“We know what needs to be done to reach our goal of full accreditation,” said Pernell. “We are prepared, we have the support of our administration and the commitment of faculty to meet the challenges and concerns that arise as we go through this process.”

The College of Law was awarded provisional accreditation in 2004. It has until August 2009 to meet full accreditation standards.

The ABA report was prepared for the use of the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar Association and not intended public release. Each page of the report was stamped confidential. However pursuant to Section 119.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes, FAMU was required to release the report to the media, which made a public records request.