Here are a few of the most important news stories you need to know from the past week.
For the last decade, AALS has kept the legal academy and supporters informed with our weekly Legal Education News Digest and Blogs Digest. These digests track important developments in legal education, the legal profession, and higher education on the federal level. They also highlight new programs, collaborations between schools, milestones, faculty accomplishments, awards, clinical activities, and special events. Sign up to receive these digests by email.
Law schools can share news and updates with the editors of the weekly digest here.
AALS Legal Education News Digest – Two Weeks Ending December 5, 2025
AALS Legal Education Blogs Digest – Two Weeks Ending December 5, 2025
Top stories from the past week include:
- The US Federal Trade Commission released a letter on Tuesday calling the American Bar Association an accreditation “monopoly.” The letter was in response to the Texas Supreme Court’s invitation for public comment as they consider removing the ABA as the sole accreditor in the state. Texas is one of a few states reconsidering ABA law school accreditation in their state. (Reuters)
- AALS recently released a report examining the experiences, career pathways and obstacles faced by women attorneys seeking leadership roles at colleges and universities. As the number of women in the legal profession increases, they are still significantly underrepresented in leadership roles compared to their male peers. The report also includes recommendations from current women leaders in higher education on how other women can navigate gender bias and mental struggles while pursuing leadership roles. (WIA Report)
- A recent LSAC report found that changes to federal student loans have significantly impacted law school applicants. More than half of LSAT test takers said that financial barriers presented an obstacle in them going to law school. The report also found that more students believe that they may not be able to overcome financial obstacles and that they could prevent them from attending law school. (LSAC)
Higher Education
- Recent changes have restricted eligibility for the public service loan forgiveness program, caused many public-service workers to question their careers. New regulations state that PSLF will not be available to organizations supporting “illegal activity” though many believe the act is politically motivated to target organizations aiding immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals. (The Street)
- The US Department of the Interior is now taking a greater role in administering funding to tribal colleges causing concerns amid institutional leaders. The change has led to distrust between tribal colleges and the Education Department as they fear that their federal funding will be significantly cut. (Inside Higher Ed)
- FAFSA has seen an increase in application completion in 2025. 26% of high school seniors have completed the form by November 21 which is an 11% increase from 2022. Experts state that the simplified application process and earlier rollout of the form could be the cause of increased completion. (Inside Higher Ed)
Law School Programs, Clinics and Milestones
- UC Berkeley Law Center for Law, Energy and the Environment helps create California climate bills. (UC Berkeley Law)
- Case Western Reserve Law launches cybersecurity and data privacy specialization. (CWRU Newsroom)
- University of Chicago Law AI Lab launches tool to help renters understand their rights. (LawSites)
- Lewis & Clark Law Information Technology launches live captioning system to increase accessibility on campus. (Lewis & Clark Law School)