The US News Law School rankings for 2023-2024 have caused quite a stir in the legal education community. The rankings, which were delayed due to law schools refusing to provide details on their methodology, have sparked controversy and debate.
Yale’s Dean Heather Gerken criticized the rankings, calling them “profoundly flawed” for undervaluing programs that promote public interest legal careers. This led to a wave of law schools opting out of the rankings, citing negative connotations for legal education.
Influential legal blogger David Lat suggested using data from the American Bar Association instead. The rankings have traditionally been dominated by Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, known as the “HYS” triumvirate. However, a recent mix-up in the rankings saw Harvard drop to fifth place, tied with Duke and NYU.
The revised ranking methodology now places a greater emphasis on student outcomes, with factors like employment and bar passage rates accounting for nearly 60% of the ranking weight. Peer assessment and LSAT scores have decreased in importance.
The rankings also saw significant movement outside the top 14, with state law schools like Minnesota, Georgia, and Oklahoma making significant gains. Conversely, schools like Alabama, Iowa, and Illinois saw significant drops.
Overall, the new ranking methodology aims to provide a more accurate reflection of law schools’ performance in the real world, emphasizing outcomes that matter to students and employers. The rankings have sparked discussions about the changing landscape of legal education and the importance of data accuracy in evaluating law schools.