Law School Rankings and Your Career

Law school rankings are a mixed bag.  Over the years, the American Bar Association (ABA) has routinely condemned the US News and World Report ranking of law schools as being elitist and irrelevant.  At the same time, many law firms can and do judge the fitfulness of law school graduates based on the ranking of the law school they attended.  As you choose law schools to apply to, you'll need to find some kind of balance between the law school that's best for you and the rankings of each prospective institution.

How Are Law Schools Ranked?

Today, there are many groups that seek to rank law schools, although the most commonly referred-to systems are the US News and World Report and the ABA rankings.  Their study takes into account a number of different factors including the amount of funding per student and how quickly students find jobs.  If you know what area of law you want to specialize in, you might want to see if there's a special list dedicated to this field.  Law firms that focus on your area of law may give more credence to the schools listed on the specialized report.

The US News and World Law School Ranking System

The US News ranking system differs dramatically in its assessment of law colleges when compared to the ABA ranking system.  For example, the US News and World Report yearly rankings rely heavily on post-graduate employment status and success rates.  Interestingly enough, the law schools consistently ranking in the top fourteen have been the training ground for all the Supreme Court Justices.  While the ABA has often claimed these rankings are unfair, there's no question that they've made a major impact on our government and legal system.

The ABA Ranking System

The ABA system tracks all of the law schools that you can attend in the United States, instead of just the top ranked schools, and you can view their guide online for free.  Their interactive site will let you choose law schools based on specific criteria – including tuition cost, specialty, and admission guidelines.  Many people believe that this is a better system, since it allows a student to find the best potential match for their qualifications and interests.

Selecting a Law School

When selecting a law school, it's important to think about what your future options will be.  As you review the US News and World Report rankings, it may seem impossible to get into the top fourteen colleges based on their prices and admissions policies.  That said, you can use the ABA guidebook to find colleges with strong programs that may be a better fit for you.

Have you heard the joke about doctors?  It says, "What do you call the guy who graduated last in his medical class?"  The response?  "Doctor."  The same goes for lawyers.  No matter where you go to law school, once you become a lawyer, there will be no shortage of demand for your services.  While attending a third or fourth tier school may not make it easy to get into an established law firm, there's nothing to stop you from opening a solo practice or working with a smaller firm.  So take school rankings with a grain of salt and focus more on becoming the best lawyer you can.