UATX planning new law school without support of American Bar Association

University of Austin students listen in class on Monday, Sept. The school is planning on launching a new law school in 2028. In the next chapter of Austin’s newest higher education institution, the University of Austin is taking on the American Bar Association. With an $11 million donation from Austinites Steven Kenninger and his wife, Gail Jaquish, the university, often called UATX, announced plans on Thursday to open its own law school as soon as fall 2028. The university plans to sidestep the American Bar Association , which acts as the national accreditor for legal education.

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WilluChill News DeskAustin, Texas · Published Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 2:09 PM UTCUpdated Friday, September 18, 2026 at 7:43 AM UTC

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The group formed in response to perceived liberal ideology in the legal profession and advocates for a focus on individual liberty, traditional values and a strict interpretation of the law, according to its website. The university, which just welcomed its third class to its downtown campus, now enrolls more than 200 students.

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