Ohio is considering whether graduation from an American Bar Association-accredited law school should remain the standard educational route for admission to the state bar. The Ohio State Bar Association, Federal Trade Commission and other groups have supported allowing additional recognized accreditors, while opponents argue that ABA accreditation supplies consistent educational quality and interstate portability. The question has become more consequential as the federal government separately considers ending the ABA's status as the federally recognized law-school accreditor. Ohio therefore must decide how much competition and flexibility it wants in legal education without weakening professional standards. One accreditor creates consistency but also enormous gatekeeping power. Competition can lower barriers only if alternative standards still mean something.
Who should be allowed to accredit the law schools Ohio recognizes?