The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) staff has expressed support for the Florida Supreme Court's recent decision to remove the American Bar Association's (ABA) monopoly on law school accreditation in Florida. This decision allows other accrediting agencies recognized by the U.S. Department of Education to participate in the accreditation process.

Previously, the ABA was the sole authority determining which law schools met the educational requirements for taking the Florida bar exam. The FTC's letter to the court highlighted that the ABA's standards create an elitist model of legal education, which increases costs and limits the number of lawyers available to serve consumers.

The FTC commended the court's action as a means to foster competition and reduce the barriers to entry for aspiring lawyers. The letter also pointed out that the ABA's control over legal education standards may impose ideological biases that do not align with educational goals and could potentially violate federal law.

Overall, the FTC views the Florida Supreme Court's decision as a significant step towards dismantling the ABA's accreditation monopoly and encourages other states to follow suit in promoting a more competitive legal education landscape.