A prominent conservative organization has filed a lawsuit against the American Bar Association (ABA), challenging the legality of its longstanding Legal Opportunity Scholarship program, which aims to increase racial and ethnic diversity in law schools. The American Alliance for Equal Rights, headed by Edward Blum, a staunch critic of affirmative action, argues that the program unfairly excludes white applicants by limiting eligibility to minority groups.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Illinois, claims that the ABA’s scholarship initiative discriminates against white law school hopefuls who are not allowed to apply. The conservative group insists that the scholarships should be awarded based on merit or financial need, rather than race.
“The purpose of this lawsuit is not to eliminate the ABA’s scholarships but to ensure they are awarded on legitimate grounds, such as merit or financial need, rather than racial considerations,” said Blum in a statement about the case.
The ABA, which represents about 150,000 members nationwide, declined to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit. However, the association reiterated its commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion within the legal field, stating that its programs aim to eliminate bias and promote equal participation across the justice system.
The Legal Opportunity Scholarship has been a fixture of the ABA for 25 years, awarding between 20 and 25 scholarships annually, each worth $15,000. The Alliance’s lawsuit claims to represent a white male law school applicant who would otherwise apply for the scholarship if eligible.
This legal battle adds to the broader conservative movement against diversity programs in the legal profession and beyond. Edward Blum previously spearheaded the case that led to the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions. In 2024, his group also sued major law firms over their diversity fellowship initiatives, though those cases were dropped after the firms adjusted their eligibility criteria.
The ABA recently made headlines in October when it revised its Judicial Clerkship Program’s criteria, removing terms like “minority” and “communities of color” following a complaint from another conservative group. This action came after a threat of legal action from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, which accused the ABA of using racial quotas in its program.
Blum’s organization continues to challenge diversity initiatives across various sectors, pushing for race-neutral criteria in scholarships and hiring practices.
