What I find more telling is the comments of judges about graduates of the various law schools. There is a certain mind set difference from graduates of the various law schools. I find this the strength of the system and make no qualitative judgments. It islike college football teams, and an old friend of mine who referees in the ACC put it best when I asked him which among thetop 5 teams was the best in the conference. He replied, “on which weekend?” A lot like the answer to the best lawyers, I think, “On which case?”

This is not true. The employment statistics fell.

Say hello to Xenu for all of us.

Right now it is just the rest of the world… but the quest for Truth is universal.

To the top and beyond!

Realistically, the ratings of schools are important, since many people rely on them, so it should be a factor taken into account. Years ago, the rankings were based on informal polls of deans, professors, and others. They reflected subjective opinion. There was no objective way to measure those things. Nowadays, the quantitative elements are open to abuse and can well have an adverse effect.

For example, one factor is the average or median law board LSAT score. Studies have shown that a high score on this test only shows that the student is likely to succeed in the first year of law school, but not much else. Malcolm Gladwell noted that the LSAT probably measures only two of the 20 odd skills that a lawyer needs to succeed.

The problem with the ratings, as JT noted, is the tendency to game the system, to the detriment of a sound legal education. Like the schools that teach to the standardized test, the law school may react to the ratings. They should instead look to the needs of the profession.

Students should look to things like the size of the law library and other legal resources in the area, as well as the quality of the faculty. They should look for extensive trial and appellate practice courses and competitions that are extremely important for future practices.

[Everything in the above posting entitled Rating of Law Schools was a direct quotation from the ABA website.]

Or is it an alternate universe?

No rating of law schools beyond the simple statement of their accreditation status is attempted or advocated by the official organizations in legal education. Qualities that make one kind of school good for one student may not be as important to another. The American Bar Association and its Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar have issued disclaimers of any law school rating system.

Prospective law students should consider a variety of factors in making their choice among schools.

http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/approved.html

I can see Professor Adolph Hitler on one of their honorary law degrees.