Tennessee Supreme Court Broadens Bar Exam Eligibility

October 6, 2026, 9:36 am CDT The Tennessee Supreme Court will broaden the pool of candidates able to take the bar exam, according to an order Friday. (Photo by sengchoy/ Getty Images ) The Tennessee Supreme Court will broaden the pool of candidates able to take the bar exam, according to an order Friday stating that graduates from law schools approved by accreditors other than the council for the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar also can take the bar. Currently, the council, an independent arm of the ABA, is the state’s only approved accreditor, and it has been the target of criticism by President Donald Trump’s administration. Tennessee follows moves by other Republican-leaning state supreme courts of Alabama , Texas and Florida , which have made moves to loosen ties with the council. Ohio currently is reevaluating ABA accreditation. To date, none ban ABA accreditation. The council deeply values its long-standing partnership with the Tennessee Supreme Court and respects the states authority over legal education and bar admissions,” said Carla Pratt, the council chair, in a statement. “We look forward to continuing to work side by side with the court to support solutions that protect Tennessee consumers, lower barriers for students and foster innovation while maintaining the strong nationwide degree portability that Tennessee law graduates deserve. The state’s move comes as the council faces the U.S. Department of Education’s five-year review of its status as national accreditor of law schools. Last month, the council sat before the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity for a contentious hearing regarding the council’s status, held since 1952. After several hours of debate, the committee voted to not make a recommendation. A decision by the Education Department on the council’s national status is expected by year-end. Reuters has the story.