Consumer Information (ABA Required Disclosures)
The American Bar Association (ABA) Standards and Rules of Procedure for Approval of Law Schools requires all law schools to publicly disclose certain categories of information on their websites. Standard 509(a) requires that all consumer information reported by law schools shall be complete, accurate and not misleading to a reasonable law school student or applicant.
We strive to provide you with information that is complete, accurate, and not misleading throughout our website. In addition, to make it more convenient for you, we have gathered all of the required ABA information together on this page.
Admission Policies
Standard 501(a) requires a law school to “adopt, publish, and adhere to sound admission policies and practices consistent with the Standards, its mission, and the objectives of its program of legal education.” Read our Admission Policies.
Admission to the Bar
Applicants should be aware that a license to practice law requires admission to the bar in every U.S. jurisdiction. In addition to a bar examination, there are character, fitness, and other qualifications. Applicants are encouraged to determine the requirements for the jurisdiction in which they intend to seek admission. See more information here: National Conference of Bar Examiners.
Information Report
The Standard 509 Information Report summarizes information that the School of Law provided to the American Bar Association in its Annual Questionnaire. Read our 2023 Standard 509 Information Report (.pdf).
Employment Statistics
Employment data for three years of graduates are posted on our Employment Statistics page. This information represents a “snapshot” of post-graduate employment ten months after graduation.
Bar Passage Report
The Standard 509 Bar Passage Report summarizes information that the School of Law provided to the American Bar Association in its Standard 509 Bar Passage Questionnaire. Read our 2024 Standard 509 Bar Passage Summary Report (.pdf).
Refund Policy
The School of Law’s Refund Policy appears on our Tuition & Fees page.
Academic Information
The School of Law’s Curricular Offerings may be found in our Course Catalog and in the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Student Handbook, Volume I. The Academic Calendar can be found under Forms and Schedules. Academic Requirements may be found in the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Student Handbook, Volume I.
Transfer of Credits
Our transfer of credit policy may be found in Section 4.6 of the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law Student Handbook, Volume I.
The School of Law does not have any established articulation agreements with other institutions regarding transfer of credit.
Accreditation
The School of Law is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. The ABA Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar may be contacted as follows:
Office of the Consultant on Legal Education /
Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar
American Bar Association
321 N. Clark Street, 21st Floor
Chicago, IL 60654
Phone: 312.988.6738
Fax: 312.988.5681
legaled@americanbar.org
Procedures for Responding to Student Complaints Regarding Compliance with the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools
As an ABA-accredited law school, the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law is subject to the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The ABA Standards may be found at https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/standards/. Any student of the School of Law who wishes to bring a formal complaint to the administration of a significant problem that directly implicates the School of Law’s program of legal education and its compliance with the ABA Standards should do the following:
The relevant section provides as follows:
1. Submit the complaint in writing to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean of Students. The writing may consist of an e-mail, U.S. mail, or fax.
2. The writing should describe in detail the behavior, program, process, or other matter that is the subject of the complaint, and should explain how the matter implicates the School of Law’s program of legal education and its compliance with a specific, identified ABA Standard(s).
3. The writing must provide the name, e-mail address, phone number and street address of the complaining student, for further communication about the complaint.
4. The Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or the Associate Dean of Students will acknowledge the complaint within five (5) business days of receipt. Acknowledgement may be made by e-mail, U.S. mail, or by personal delivery, at the option of the Associate Dean.
5. Within three (3) weeks of acknowledgment of the complaint, the administrator or the administrator’s designee shall either meet with the complaining student, or respond to the substance of the complaint in writing. In this meeting or writing, the student should either receive a substantive response to the complaint, or information about what steps are being taken by the School of Law to address the complaint or further investigate the complaint. If further investigation is needed, within two (2) weeks of completion of the investigation, the student shall be provided with either a substantive response to the complaint or information about what steps are being taken by the School of Law to address the complaint.
6. Within two (2) weeks after receiving a substantive response to the complaint, the student who filed the initial complaint may appeal the decision to the Dean of the School of Law. Any decision made by the Dean shall be final.
7. A copy of the complaint and a summary of the process and resolution of the complaint shall be kept in the office of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for a period of eight (8) years from the date of final resolution of the complaint.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
In accordance with federal law and the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, D.C. Official Code, Section 2-1401.01 et. seq., (Act) the University of the District of Columbia does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, marital status, personal appearance, genetic information, familial status, source of income, status as a victim of an intrafamily offense, place of residence or business, or status as a covered veteran. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination which is also prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above protected categories is prohibited by the Act. Discrimination in violation of the Act will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.
View the University’s EEO Policy, Discrimination and Harassment Policy, and a Title IX brochure.
