UNLV's William S. Boyd School of Law's application for full accreditation recently received unanimous approval from the American Bar Association's Council of the Section of Legal Education. Full accreditation will be formally granted after the ABA House of Delegates concurs with the recommendation at its meeting in February.

"This wonderful news speaks highly of our standards for quality and excellence," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "It confirms our belief that UNLV's Boyd School of Law is rapidly becoming a first-rate center for legal education. I want to thank the wonderful faculty and staff of the law school as well as the donors, Regents, and the Nevada Legislature for their contributions to building this successful program."

Richard Morgan, dean of the Boyd School of Law, said that UNLV is receiving accreditation at the earliest time possible under ABA guidelines.

"Earning full accreditation from the American Bar Association in such a short time speaks well of our excellent programs and our dedicated faculty," Morgan said. "This marks a major milestone for us and will allow us to move forward as a pivotal resource for Nevada."

The Boyd School of Law is the only law school in Nevada. It was created by the Nevada Legislature in June 1997 and opened its doors to students in August 1998. It received provisional accreditation from the ABA in July 2000, which means that its graduates have been eligible to sit for bar examinations throughout the United States. In May 2001, the school celebrated the graduation of its first class of students. The school moved into its permanent home in the William S. Boyd Hall and the James E. Rogers Center for Administration and Justice in August 2002.