Lincoln Memorial Drops Their Suit Against the ABA

Lincoln Memorial University’s Duncan School of Law has decided to drop their federal law suit against the American Bar Association and play it by the rules. The frustrated school, which has struggled to gain accreditation, is suffering so bad due to that lack that only 15 students are coming into their next class — and this is even though they have until 2017 to gain accreditation. Both the ABA and Duncan filed a motion Friday with U.S. District Judge Tom Varlan to lift the stay on the case so that they can go back to simply working through the appeals process with the ABA. The case was dismissed Monday.

The accreditors will visit in March, but what is going to mean the most for potential accreditation is how the Duncan students score on the bar.

“We’ve been told it’s very important that the board scores are good,” said Pete DeBusk, LMU board of trustee’s chairman, “and I think that will speak for itself in that we’ve prepared these students properly to where they could pass the state boards. We’ve worked hard, and the consultant we’ve brought in is very strong in … helping schools qualify in meeting standards.”

DeBusk was referring to the management toggling the university has tried to get things in line. They have dismissed Sydney Beckman as school Dean, who will go back to teaching, while the school seeks an interim replacement; meanwhile they have hired legal consultant Leary Davis to help them meet the three ABA standards they still haven’t met.

These standards regard enrollment and economic conditions of prospective students.

As for the mere 15 students coming in next year, DeBusk is rather nonchalant. “We think students will be there. We don’t have to be a huge law school; we need to be a law school serving our mission.”