In the following year, the Council, through its Standards Review Committee, undertook a revision of the Rules of Procedure that was adopted by the House of Delegates in August 1997. The ABA approves foreign study programs of ABA approved law schools and individual foreign study programs for students who are currently enrolled in ABA approved law schools. The Council has adopted Criteria for Approval of Foreign Summer Programs, Criteria for Approval of Semester Abroad Programs, Criteria for Approval of Cooperative Programs for Foreign Study, and Criteria for Approval of Individual Student Study Abroad for Academic Credit. Students currently enrolled at an ABA approved law school who desire to receive credit toward their J.D. degree for studies in a foreign program should read carefully the applicable criteria for their course of study. Typically, these programs are only open to students who have successfully completed their first year of study in law school.
Students have four options to earn credit for foreign study in an ABA approved foreign program.
The Standards require all ABA approved law schools to obtain acquiescence from the Council prior to establishing a degree in addition to its J.D. degree program. A law school may not establish a degree program in addition to its J.D. degree program unless the school is fully approved and the quality of its J.D. degree program exceeds the requirements of the Standards. The additional degree program may not detract from a law school's ability to maintain a sound J.D. degree program.