The latest US News & World Report law school rankings have caused quite a stir in the academic sector. The ranking system has been widely questioned over the years, and this year appears to be no exception. Discontentment has been expressed in regard to the rankings, exemplified by law schools like Harvard and Duke experiencing an unexpected tie, and renowned universities like Columbia and NYU placed at the lower end of the top 10. You can check out the present drama, debates, and details here.
An illuminating critique was penned by Donald Tobin from Maryland Law on his views about the new methodologies introduced by U.S. News & World Report’s rankings. He discussed the pros, like adopting a two-year average for bar passage and employment data to reduce volatility, and the cons, such as the possibility of downplaying outcome measurements. His full op-ed piece is available on the TaxProf Blog.
What caused quite the uproar is the decision of U.S. News to ignore the reputational submissions of schools that did not submit to U.S. News’ data requirements. Many elite schools had taken a stand against the rankings by withdrawing and thereby undermining the credibility of U.S. News. These changes can be explored in depth here.
The consequent decision by the U.S. News system to dismiss schools that refused to cooperate may, admittedly, harm the rankings by removal of their input, but just as equally harm the rankings by including biased scores. After all, if a law school has expressed a dislike for the process and chosen not to engage proactively to enhance the rankings’ credibility, is it appropriate for the U.S. News to place their trust in these schools’ survey results?
In light of these developments, it is crucial to remember that the responsibility of this tumult lies inherently with the law schools that ensnared themselves in it. Only time will tell if they decide to put an end to their objection with the ranking methodologies.
For those wanting more context, the 2024-2025 U.S. News Law School Rankings are available here, and a provoking narrative of a law school being held back in the rankings here.