FIU College of Law On Track for Accreditation

After only two years of operation, the Florida International University College of Law is at the doorstep of provisional accreditation by the American Bar Association. This is a key hurdle to clear before the first graduating class can sit for bar examinations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The College is expected to graduate its inaugural class of approximately 50 full-time students in May 2005.

Recently, Law Dean Leonard Strickman, FIU President Modesto Maidique and Associate Dean Michelle Mason appeared before the Council of the Section on Legal Education of the American Bar Association in Washington, D.C. The Council voted unanimously to recommend provisional accreditation to the FIU program.

“I am more confident than ever that we will achieve our goal of provisional accreditation before our third class enrolls in late August,” said Strickman.

Final confirmation of provisional accreditation is expected to come Aug. 10, during the annual meeting of the American Bar Association in Atlanta.

After provisional accreditation is awarded, allowing graduates to sit for the bar exams, the College of Law will continue a process toward permanent accreditation which may be granted no earlier than 2007.

The law school at Florida A&M University was also granted provisional accreditation at that meeting.

“We are a step closer to fulfilling our promise to the South Florida community of graduating highly trained lawyers who will serve Florida well,” said Maidique.

For more information on the FIU College of Law visit http://law.fiu.edu/ or contact Dean Strickman at 305-348-1118.