I know ABA matters for the JD, but since you don't need an LLM to practice and it is not illegal to place after your name as long from an accredited college. Is it just as well to save bucks and get a CBE or DETC LLM instead?

3L,

It does matter ONLY if you would like to practice in other states. In California, there are law schools that are NOT ABA accredited so you are most likely to be practicing in California.

To remedy this situation, an LLM is deemed necessary in order for an individual to sit for a state bar.