The Tennessee Supreme Court entered an order on Friday “to further reduce reliance on ABA accreditation,” noting that the state will “consider adding additional or alternative accreditors to the list of Approved Accreditors in the future, including other state supreme courts.” The Court also announced it will “establish taskforces to further explore the following issues: (1) alternative pathways to licensure, (2) interstate practice and mobility, and (3) the role of paraprofessionals in providing legal services.” From a story in the ABA Journal:

The Tennessee Supreme Court will broaden the pool of candidates able to take the bar exam, according to an order Friday stating that graduates from law schools approved by accreditors other than the council for the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar also can take the bar.

Julianne Hill, Tennessee Supreme Court Broadens Who Can Take Bar Exam, ABA Journal, October 6, 2026. For other coverage, see Chrystie Holmstrom & Michael Zhang, Tennessee Supreme Court Keeps Nonlawyer Ownership Rules, Loosens ABA Accreditation Requirement, Holland & Knight Alert, October 5, 2026; Karen Sloan, Tennessee Joins Other States in Limiting ABA’s Law School Oversight, Reuters, October 5, 2026; Emma Cueto, Tenn. High Court Keeps ABA As Law School Accreditor, Law360, October 2, 2026.