Among the many reasons why a law school may be the best is its stellar reputation. Applicants must submit transcripts from all of their prior colleges and universities, two letters of recommendation from professors, and a 250-word essay about their life and interests. Yale Law School has maintained its top spot on the ranking for the last 30 years, and it is the only school in the country to have achieved that feat.
The university boasts a diverse student body. Graduates often opt for government or academic careers. Another difference between Yale Law School and other law schools is their grading system. Yale law students are not graded according to traditional letter grades. Students in the first year are graded on a Credit/No Credit system. Students in their second year are graded on Honors/Pass/Low Pass/Fail systems. The university’s campus is small and low-key, but close proximity to New York City adds to the ambiance.
The rankings rely on a controversial measure called Quality Assessment. The evaluations are conducted by law professors, faculty chairs, and tenured professors. The ranking reflects the reputation of the schools and is based on the quality of the teaching and research at each school. A recent survey of lawyers and judges also plays a role in determining which law schools are the best. However, the rankings are not based solely on reputation, and there is no hard evidence to support this claim.
