How to Use Law School Rankings to Your Advantage

Law school rankings can often be difficult to assess. From varying methodology to subjective factors, it can be challenging for applicants to compile a solid, effective list.

But experts say that rankings can be helpful in narrowing an applicant’s list down. Gabriel Kuris, founder of Top Law Coach and contributor at US News, recently offered a few tips on how applicants can effectively use rankings to narrow down their law school choices.

DON’T LOOK TO DEEP INTO NUMERIC RANKINGS

While numeric rankings can help applicants prioritize their list, Kuris advises against obsessing over each school’s numeric ranking.

“Think of the rankings as a set of tiers of 15-25 schools each,” Kuris writes. “Generally, schools in the same tier tend to be comparably selective, although they may differ widely in size, geography or culture.”

FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU

At the end of the day, fit matters the most when making your law school decision. Experts suggest utilizing rankings to hone-in on what aspects matter to you most.

“Find a target school whose median GPA and LSAT scores match yours, then look for similarly ranked schools,” Kuris writes. “Research those law schools’ websites for appealing strengths, like features and programs that fit your interests.”

And despite the backlash that rankings get, many experts say that the lists can be helpful as long as applicants are aware of the intrinsic flaws.

“While flawed, they provide information that most applicants may not otherwise get — specifically, they provide a way of targeting schools that applicants should apply to and consider attending based on likelihood of admission, region of employment opportunities, class-size, etc.,” Mike Spivey, founder of Spivey Consulting, writes.

Sources: US News, Spivey Consulting