Top 10 Law Schools - A Comparison

The rankings of law schools can vary significantly depending on the criteria used and the perspective of the ranking organization. Both the US News 2010 Law School Ranking and Thomas E. Brennan: Judging the Law Schools rankings present insights into the best law schools, but they have differences in the institutions they prioritize and the factors they emphasize.

US News 2010 Law School Ranking

According to US News & World Report’s 2010 rankings, the top ten law schools are dominated by a small group of elite institutions. Yale Law School is ranked number one, followed by Harvard (2nd), Stanford (3rd), and Columbia (4th). The ranking then includes New York University (5th), Berkeley (6th), and Chicago (6th), all of which are considered among the top law schools in the world. The rankings also show institutions such as the University of Pennsylvania (8th), University of Michigan (9th), and Duke (10th) as top performers. Interestingly, the US News ranking ties some schools, such as Berkeley and Chicago, in the 6th position, which reflects a smaller difference in their overall performance.

The US News rankings take into account several factors, including academic reputation, employment outcomes, faculty resources, bar passage rates, and other performance indicators. Yale Law School, for example, ranks first due to its extremely selective admissions process, esteemed faculty, and strong post-graduation employment prospects. Harvard and Stanford follow closely behind with their renowned faculty, high academic standards, and extensive alumni networks. The emphasis in the US News ranking is on a school’s overall reputation, its placement in prestigious law firms, and the academic success of its graduates.

Thomas E. Brennan: Judging the Law Schools

In contrast, the Thomas E. Brennan: Judging the Law Schools ranking provides a different list of top law schools. According to Brennan’s survey, Harvard University holds the top spot, followed by Georgetown University (2nd), University of Texas (3rd), University of Virginia (4th), and Northwestern University (5th). Other institutions like New York University (6th), Columbia University (7th), and Yale University (8th) round out the top ten. This ranking is somewhat different from the US News list, as it places schools like Georgetown, University of Texas, and Northwestern higher than they appear in the US News rankings. Yale, despite its prominent reputation, is placed at 8th, much lower than its position as the top-ranked law school in the US News list.

Brennan’s ranking likely reflects a focus on other factors such as practical training, regional reputation, and employment in governmental or public service positions. For example, Georgetown University’s law school ranks highly in Brennan’s list, perhaps due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., providing students with unparalleled access to government agencies, advocacy groups, and major law firms. Likewise, the University of Texas is ranked highly, which could be attributed to its strong programs in commercial law and intellectual property law, as well as its high bar passage rates and employment statistics.

Key Differences Between the Two Rankings

The most striking difference between the US News 2010 Law School Ranking and the Thomas E. Brennan ranking is the positioning of certain schools. For example, in US News, Yale, Harvard, and Stanford dominate the top three spots, with little deviation in their rankings. These schools are known for their academic rigor, prestige, and elite networks, which heavily influence the US News rankings. In contrast, Brennan’s list places Georgetown and the University of Texas at the forefront, emphasizing perhaps a more practical approach to law education, where proximity to major legal and political centers (like Washington, D.C. for Georgetown) might be prioritized.

Another notable difference is the inclusion of institutions like Northwestern and the University of Minnesota in the Thomas E. Brennan ranking, both of which are absent or lower in the US News list. Northwestern Law is often seen as a highly competitive law school, with strong business law programs and a focus on interdisciplinary studies, which might account for its higher ranking in Brennan’s survey. The University of Minnesota, while not traditionally in the top ten in US News, is ranked in the top ten by Brennan, reflecting the school’s growing reputation and its strong public service law programs.

Additionally, US News tends to place greater emphasis on academic reputation and research output, which are key factors in their methodology. On the other hand, Brennan’s ranking appears to factor in practical considerations, such as proximity to major legal hubs, the influence of regional legal networks, and the career outcomes of graduates, which could explain why schools like Georgetown and the University of Texas fare better.

US News Law School Ranking (The Top 10 list):
1. Yale
2. Harvard
3. Stanford
4. Columbia
5. NYU
6. Berkeley
6. Chicago
8. Penn
9. Michigan
10. Duke
10. Northwestern
10. UVA

Source: US News & World Report 2010

Thomas E. Brennan: Judging the Law Schools:
1 Harvard
2 Georgetown University
3 University of Texas
4 University of Virginia
5 Northwestern University
6 New York University
7 Columbia University
8 Yale
9 University of Michigan
10 University of Minnesota

Source: Thomas M. Cooley Law School

10 Best Law Schools in the United Kingdom by The Times:

1. Cambridge
   
2. Oxford
   
3. London School of Economics
   
4. Nottingham
   
5. University College London
   
6. King's College London
   
7. Birmingham
   
8. Aberdeen
   
9. Queen Mary, London
   
10. Durham
    

Source: Times Good University Guide 2010

Top 10 UK Law Schools by Guardian:
1 Cambridge
2 Oxford
3 UCL
4 Edinburgh
5 King's College London
6 London School of Economics
7 Warwick
8 Birmingham
9 Queen Mary
10 Glasgow

Source: Guardian Subject League Tables 2010