# Paxton Investigates ABA Over Law School Accreditation

> Texas AG probes ABA's law school accreditation practices for antitrust concerns.
- Title: Paxton Investigates ABA Over Law School Accreditation
- Summary: Texas AG probes ABA's law school accreditation practices for antitrust concerns. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an antitrust investigation into…
- Keywords: ken paxton, american bar association, law school accreditation, antitrust investigation, texas bar, federal recognition, diversity policies, legal education, news, politics, Paxton, Investigates
- Source: Dallas Express — https://dallasexpress.com/state/paxton-investigates-aba-over-law-school-accreditation-practices
- Author: Dallas Express
- Published: 2026-09-30T16:55:40+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ken paxton, american bar association, law school accreditation, antitrust investigation, texas bar, federal recognition, diversity policies, legal education, news, politics
## Texas Attorney General Launches ABA Probe
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the American Bar Association over whether its control of law school accreditation has unlawfully restricted competition and increased the cost of legal education.
## ABA's Accreditation Standards Under Scrutiny
Paxton's office issued a Civil Investigative Demand to the ABA to examine its accreditation standards and potential effects on law schools, students, and the legal services market.
## ABA's Role Since 1952
The ABA has served as the federally recognized accreditor of U.S. law schools since 1952, with its Council establishing accreditation standards nationwide.
## Paxton Questions Faculty Pay and Competition
Paxton's office will examine whether the ABA raised faculty pay and operating requirements to make it harder for schools with other legal education models to compete.
## Paxton's Antitrust Concerns
Paxton stated that law school accreditation must allow competition and a fair playing field, or else we risk inflated costs, unfair restrictions, and illegal discriminatory practices.
## Texas Moves Away From ABA Requirement
A January 6 Supreme Court of Texas order ended the state's rule requiring graduation from an ABA-accredited law school to sit for the Texas bar, taking over the list of approved schools.
## Federal Review of ABA Status
The U.S. Department of Education's NACIQI advisory committee deadlocked last week on whether to renew the ABA council's federal recognition, with the decision going to the Education Department within 90 days.
## ABA Repeals Diversity Standards
The ABA repealed its diversity-related law school accreditation standard earlier this month, following criticism of its pace in revising such requirements.
## Key takeaway

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched an antitrust investigation into the American Bar Association over alleged unlawful restrictions on law school competition and increased costs.