It’s Official: FAMU’s College of Law Granted Provisional Accreditation
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The American Bar Association has granted provisional accreditation to the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law. The decision was announced Monday by the American Bar Association (ABA), the national accrediting body for law schools in the United States.
“This is outstanding news for our university, the state and the nation,” said FAMU President Fred Gainous. “Our law school will continue its progression, which signals a return to the glory days, when Florida A&M University produced some of the most distinguished attorneys in the country. We are now poised to improve diversity in the legal profession and to serve traditionally underserved communities. It is another component of a long-term strategy to maintain academic excellence while returning the College of Law to the FAMU family.”
The College of Law will have an enrollment of 300 students this fall. The ABA’s announcement means that FAMU students will now be able to sit for Florida’s state bar examination. According to the ABA, any school that is granted provisional accreditation is entitled to “all the rights of a fully approved law school. Graduates are entitled to the same recognition as those from fully approved schools.”
“This is a momentous day for this historic institution, its alumni and our students,” said College of Law Dean Percy R. Luney, Jr. “This confirms that we are on the right path and that our students are destined to become leaders of the most revered system in the world.”
FAMU’s law school was established in 1949. The fully accredited school graduated 57 students before it was closed by the state in 1968. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed legislation in June 2000 to reopen its doors, admitting the first class in 2002.
“This is very good news,” said Gov. Bush. “Graduates of FAMU’s original law school have distinguished themselves in the legal profession and state government leadership roles across the country. We expect that no less will become of the graduates of the newly established law school.”
The university is currently engaged in a capital campaign to raise $62 million for the College of Law, Luney said. The law school has received significant statewide support since it was reopened. In 2002, the Florida Legislature appropriated $27 million for a new building. The City of Orlando provided a $7-million, in-kind donation for land acquisition for the new law school. The balance is expected from private and public foundations, individuals and corporations.
Dozens of corporations and law firms have already pledged financial support to the College of Law, he said. University officials are planning events to be held later this month in celebration of today’s announcement. The events will be held at the university’s main campus in Tallahassee and the law school’s current location in Orlando.
In addition to FAMU’s news, Florida International University (FIU) College of Law also received word of its provisional accreditation, according to the ABA. New law schools may apply for provisional approval after one year of operation. FAMU and FIU began the process in the fall of 2003 and hosted an ABA site evaluation team in November.
