UC Irvine law school earns full accreditation

UC Irvine’s law school has been granted full accreditation by the American Bar Assn., the university has announced.

The UC Irvine School of Law was the first new public law school in the state in almost 50 years when it opened in 2009 and gained attention by recruiting Erwin Chemerinsky as its founding dean, luring him from Duke University.

“From the outset, our goal has been to build a top law school that emphasizes preparing students for the practice of law at the highest levels of the profession,” Chemerinsky said in a statement about the full accreditation.

American Bar Assn. accreditation is meant to insure a level of uniformity in legal education and practice, according to the group. To become accredited, law schools must undergo a process that involves curriculum evaluations and site visits.

“The ABA’s decision puts the official seal of approval on the hard work of scores of faculty, administrators, students and supporters, both on campus and in the legal community,” Chemerinsky said.