Law students may be required to gain more practical experience before graduation if a proposal from the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions is approved. The Standards Committee released a memo on May 2 recommending an increase in experiential learning credit hours from six to twelve, impacting Standards 303, 304, and 311. The council voted to send the proposal out for notice and comment during its quarterly meeting in Chicago.

“Three of the twelve credit hours must come from clinics or field placements with real clients, allowing students to learn about the attorney-client relationship,” said Carla L. Pratt, chair of the Standards Committee.

The existing six-credit requirement, established in 2014, did not significantly affect bar exam pass rates, according to the memo. A recent survey indicated that over half of law schools could meet nine experiential learning credit hours without needing to expand offerings, while almost 20% believed they could manage additional requirements.

The anticipated NextGen UBE Bar Exam, which evaluates practical lawyering skills, could address some of these concerns. “Our recommendations align with the goal of preparing new lawyers for the profession,” Pratt added.

If approved, the changes would require compliance three years after being reviewed by the House, with expectations for implementation by 2030. The section's council, recognized by the Department of Education as the sole accrediting body for U.S. law schools, ensures that most states require graduation from an ABA-accredited institution for bar applicants.