ABA Rule 301-6: Schools that Face the Stress Test: Texas Southern University School of Law

Previously, we looked at two schools to see if they could pass the “bar” stress test of ABA Rule 301-6.

We looked at a provisionally accredited law school, LaVerne School of Law, in California, and a fully accredited school, Quinnipiac University School of Law, in Connecticut.

We concluded that LaVerne School of Law is currently not in compliance with ABA Standard 301-6 and will probably have to restructure its bar preparation programs if LaVerne wants to be fully accredited. Quinnipiac ‘s bar numbers tell us a different story than LaVerne. Quinnipiac ‘s bar numbers look strong and the school is in compliance with ABA Standard 301-6 for 2007 and 2008, the two years we are basing our study on (the ABA looks at 5 years).

Now, let’s look at a school that is fully accredited and, even at a cursory glance. is clearly not in compliance.

Today, let’s see how Texas Southern University School of Law does:

Texas Southern (TSU)
State: Texas
Status: Fully Accredited

February 2007 Overall Pass Rate: 45.7% (105 takers, 48 passers)
1st Time Takers: 54.8% (31 takers, 17 passers)
State Average: 79.1%

24.3% below state average; 20.2% below the 75% ABA standard


July 2007 Overall Pass Rate: 57.4% (169 takers, 97 passers)
1st Time Takers: 65.4% (124 takers, 81 passers)
State Average: 87.9%

22.5% below state average; 9.6% below the 75% ABA standard


Total 2007 Overall Pass Rate: 52.9% (274 takers, 145 passers)

22.1% below 75% ABA standard


February 2008 Overall Pass Rate: 50% (80 takers, 40 passers)
1st Time Takers: 59.3% (27 takers, 16 passers)
State Average: 85%

25.3% below state average; 15.7% below the 75% ABA standard

July 2008 Overall Pass Rate: 55.6% (178 takers, 99 passers)
1st Time Takers: 59.7% (139 takers, 83 passers)
State Average: 86.9%

27.2% below state average; 15.3% below the 75% ABA standard.


Total 2008 Overall Pass Rate: 53.9% (258 takers, 139 passers)

21.1% below the 75% ABA standard


February 2009 Overall Pass Rate: 34.7% (95 takers, 33 passers)
1st Time Takers: 40.7% (27 takers, 11 passers)
State Average: 81.5%

40.8% below state average; 34.3% below the 75% ABA standard.


As we can see TSU is out of compliance and, perhaps, out of time. TSU has not been in compliance in any category that the ABA Rule 301-6 demands. The school is not even close. TSU must be within 15% of the state average, yet it routinely comes in last place, trailing behind the state average by an appalling 20% - 25%. February 2009 was even more abysmal – an outrageous 40.8% below the state average.

TSU’s yearly bar pass rate is in the low 50% range, a good 22%-25% lower than what the ABA rule 301-6 requires.

TSU’s law graduates are performing very poorly on the bar exam. It is hard to fathom that a publicly funded institution can only see half of their graduates pass the bar per year. Has the school implemented any programs to help the graduates? TSU needs quick and effective resuscitation prior to its visit by the ABA or else the school will be looking at losing their accreditation and being placed on probation.