Predictions for Top Law Schools in Upcoming US News Rankings
As the release of the latest law school rankings by U.S. News & World Report draws near, speculations are rife among experts regarding the potential frontrunners based on American Bar Association (ABA) data.
According to projections by two esteemed law professors and a reputable law school admissions consulting firm, Yale Law School and Stanford Law School are expected to secure top positions in the 2024-25 rankings, set to be unveiled this month.
Dean Paul Caron of Pepperdine University School of Law has synthesized these forecasts, with Yale Law School anticipated to claim the coveted No. 1 spot. In contrast, Stanford Law School emerges as the favored choice for [ppp1] and a professor from Notre Dame Law School.
The consensus extends to the University of Chicago and the University of Virginia law schools, predicted to clinch the third and fourth positions, respectively. Caron places the University of Pennsylvania’s law school at No. 5, whereas [ppp2] suggests a tie for fourth place and [ppp3] suggests a tie for sixth place.
While the top 14 rankings exhibit discrepancies in the predictions, certain institutions such as the University of California at Los Angeles and Georgetown University remain consistent contenders in the assessments.
Here is a glimpse of the expected top 14 law schools, as per Caron’s analysis:
- Yale University
- Stanford University
- University of Chicago
- University of Virginia
- University of Pennsylvania
- Harvard University
- Duke University
- Columbia University
- University of Michigan
- New York University
- Northwestern University
- University of California at Berkeley
- University of California at Los Angeles
- Georgetown University
In light of several law schools withholding data from U.S. News, the publication has transitioned to predominantly utilizing ABA data concerning admissions, student outcomes, and resources, accounting for 75% of the rankings methodology, as elucidated by Spivey Consulting.
Caron’s prognostications are anchored in ABA data and the previous year’s evaluation framework, offering a glimpse into the potential standings in the forthcoming rankings.