As practical training moves from a buzzword into actual practice, more law schools are delivering on their promise to prepare graduates to hit the ground running.
The National Jurist will honor 86 law schools in its March issue for earning a B grade or higher, as rated by the number of full-time students who take simulation courses, externships, clinics, or who participate in interschool skills competitions.
Nine new law schools moved into the magazine’s top 20 this year, including University of Denver, Washington and Lee University and Yale Law School. Fifteen schools made the honor roll for the first time, including University of California Irvine, Touro College and Campbell University.
The National Jurist found that a higher percent of law students participated in experiential offerings last year. However, the overall numbers were slightly down, given the drop in enrollment nationwide.
“Practical training is a buzzword for most schools and many are turning it into practice,” said Jack Crittenden, Editor In Chief of The National Jurist. “Schools like New York Law School, Elon University and Penn State Dickinson should be commended for their efforts.”
The ranking of the top 20 will appear in the March issue of The National Jurist, due out in early March.
Below are the grades:
A+ or A (in alphabetical order)
Baylor University
Brigham Young University
Brooklyn Law School
Florida Coastal School of Law
Golden Gate University
New York Law School
Northeastern University
Pepperdine University
Temple University
UMKC School of Law
University of Arizona
University of Colorado
University of Denver
University of Hawaii
University of St. Thomas – Mn.
University of Utah
University of Wisconsin
Washington and Lee University
William and Mary Law School
Yale Law School
A-
Arizona State University
Capital University
Case Western University
Gonzaga University
John Marshall
Lewis & Clark Law School
Liberty University
Michigan State University
Northwestern University
UC – Irvine
University of Connecticut
University of Idaho
University of Maryland
University of New Hampshire
University of New Mexico
University of Wyoming
William Mitchell College of Law
B+
Campbell Law School
Cardozo School of Law
Chapman Fowler School of Law
Chicago-Kent College of Law
CUNY School of Law
Drake University
Emory University
Hamline University
Loyola University Chicago
Ohio Northern University
Saint Louis University
Santa Clara University
Southern Illinois University
Southwestern Law School
Touro Law Center
University of Cincinnati
University of Georgia
University of Illinois
University of Mississippi
University of Oregon
University of Washington
Washington University
Wayne State University
B
Catholic University
Duke University
Elon University
Faulkner Law
Pace University
Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Quinnipiac University
Regent University
Rutgers — Camden
Seton Hall University
Syracuse University
UC Hastings
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
University of Kansas
University of Massachusetts
University of Minnesota
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
University of Pittsburgh
University of San Diego
University of San Francisco
University of Tennessee
University of the District of Columbia
Valparaiso University
Wake Forest University
Washburn University
Western New England University
How we did the rankings
The American Bar Association now releases ample data on how many students participate in clinics, externships and simulation courses. The National Jurist used this data to measure which law schools are delivering when it comes to practical training.
As we did last year, we looked at the percent of full-time students in clinics, externships and simulation courses. This year, we also looked at student participation in interscholastic skills competitions, such as moot court tournaments.
We again placed the most weight on clinical experience, at 30 percent. Experts say it is a particularly effective practical training tool. Students, under faculty direction, work with clients in a number of legal areas. However, clinics are the most costly for schools to incorporate.
Externships — at 25 percent — were given second highest weight. Students get experience by working in prosecutor officers, government agencies and nonprofits, to name but a few. They get hands-on training from working with attorneys and judges.
Simulations accounted for 20 percent. This method seems to be growing more popular as schools seek to promote lawyering skills in classroom settings. It’s effective and less expensive, experts say. School competitions were given a weight of 5 percent.
We then asked schools to provide additional information about their unique offerings that are not reflected in these numbers, and this accounted for the final 20 percent of the study. For example, schools requiring pro bono work were awarded points for those efforts.