Law school rankings are usually based on survey results and empirical statistics to judge the quality of education provided by law schools. This is sometimes based on the perception of some educators, legal professionals, scholars, and students. While the American Bar Association (ABA) has refused to support the validity of law school rankings, most law students refer to the yearly result as a definite guide to the best law school in town. Needless to say, law school rankings generally affect the turn out of enrollment and the cost of tuition. (1)
How They Rank Law Schools
Some academic institutions have come up with their own top list of law schools. But perhaps, the U.S. News and World Report may be considered as one of the most influential sources of law school rankings over the past few years. The published law school rankings are actually derived from a combination of methodologies, which involve quality assessment, faculty resources, selectivity, and placement success. While faculty resources are judged based on student-teacher ratio, budget, and supply, selectivity is gauged through the number of students accepted based on their profiles. On the other hand, placement success is determined through employment standing and number of students who passed the bar. For quality assessment, opinion surveys are also taken into great consideration. (2) All these factors may determine the overall rank of most law schools.
Top Three Law Schools
The results of law school rankings may vary every year based on LSAT (Law School Admission Test) results, passage rate on bar exam, as well as the employment rate. This is why top law schools often trade places when it comes to the annual ranking. However, the consistent names on the list of top law schools in U.S. include Yale University, Harvard Law School, and Stanford University. (3) This result is based on the current list of U.S. News and World Report, as confirmed by other research groups such as the Law School 100 and The Consus Group Composite Rankings.
Choosing What’s Best for You
While law school rankings generally affect the rate of enrollment and perception on quality of education, ABA believes that other factors should also be considered on deciding which law school to attend to. Instead of publishing a report of its annual ranking, ABA chose to present an annual guide on law schools to help students decide which type of educational institution will be appropriate for their changing needs. (4)
To know what’s best for you, the following are some tips on how to make a wiser, more informed decision: (5)
*Location
Considering the time and budget constraints of attending law school, you may opt to study in state universities or community colleges that are close to home. This way, you may reduce the cost of transportation and devote more time for other activities.
*Educational Cost
Everybody dreams of going to Harvard or Yale Law School. But if your limited budget doesn’t see this option as a reality, then you may choose to enroll in schools with almost the same standard of education at a minimal cost.
*Career Goals
The choice of law school may also be based on career goals. If you think the solid reputation of a prestigious law school can give you more opportunities, then it could be possibly be a good investment for your future.
*Law Degree Program
Applications to law school may cost you some money. Hence, first review the law degree programs available and see if they will fit with your priorities. You may narrow down your choices based on this.
(1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school_rankings_in_the_United_States
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school_rankings_in_the_United_States
(3) http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/law/brief/lawrank_brief.php
(4) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school_rankings_in_the_United_States
(5) http://collegeapps.about.com/od/choosingaschool/a/choosingschlqs.htm