Following up on my previous posts (links below): Law.com, St. Thomas University Law Back in Compliance With ABA Nondiscrimination Standards:

St. Thomas University College of Law is now fully back in compliance with the American Bar Association after the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar deemed it out of compliance in February [financial resources] and August [nondiscrimination] for two different standards. …

Council’s August decision to find the law school out of compliance with Standard 205(c) sparked controversy, including attention from Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who accused the ABA of having “animus toward religiously affiliated schools” for finding St. Thomas Law, which is a private religious school, out of compliance.

ABA Journal, St. Thomas College of Law Returns to Compliance with ABA Accreditation Standards:

In September, the law school was found out of compliance with Standard 205, which directs law schools to treat people equally and be fair in hiring, admissions and retention. The managing director’s Guidance Memo on Standard 205 says schools should “provide the reasons—such as state or federal laws, other authorities or university policy—which limit the inclusion of any specific group” in their accreditation review. Standard 205 also states that law schools can have a religious affiliation or purpose that influences admissions or employment as long as notice of these policies have been stated.

In addition, the school is considered back in compliance with Standard 202, related to a school’s ability to handle financial demands. The council had found it out of compliance in February.

Press Release, St. Thomas University College of Law Welcomes ABA Council Determination of Compliance:

In its decision letter, shared on December 5, 2025, the ABA Council issued public notice concluding that St. Thomas University College of Law is now in full compliance with Standard 202(b) and Standard 205(c). These findings close previously published notices of noncompliance and reflect substantial progress achieved through sustained collaboration, detailed reporting, and institutional focus. The determination affirms the strength of the College’s academic and operational practices.

“Today, St. Thomas University College of Law is achieving the strongest results in our history and providing an excellent legal education, grounded in Catholic values, that prepares our students for professional success and service to their communities,” said College of Law Dean Tarlika Nuñez Navarro. “We remain focused on that mission.”

In recent months, St. Thomas University College of Law has achieved the most successful student outcomes in its history. The College posted an 87.3% bar passage rate in July 2025, the highest July result ever recorded for first-time takers, following a 75% bar passage rate in February 2025. These outcomes build on an 83% first-time passage rate in July 2024, the second-highest July performance in school history.

Prior TaxProf Blog coverage:

• ABA Finds St. Thomas Law School Out Of Compliance With Financial Resources Accreditation Standard
• ABA Finds St. Thomas Out of Compliance With Nondiscrimination Accreditation Standard; Florida AG Accuses ABA of Discriminating Against Catholic Law School

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