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Law schools in the U.S are ranked according to a four-tier system. The rankings are published each year on two major publications, U.S. News and World Report. Several factors are considered in the law school ranking system including selectivity, bar exam passage rates and LSAT scores. The tiers are formulated after graduation when law school graduates begin job hunting. Some employers only consider tier I and tier II graduates while others review applications from all tiers. Tier I These are law schools par excellence. Tier I law schools are those that rank anywhere between number one and 50 in the U.S. News chart. The schools in this tier have high undergraduate GPAs and placement rates upon graduation as well as low student to faculty ratios. Tier II Schools in this category rank between positions 51-100. Tier II schools produce a good stream of capable lawyers but do not have the financial power of the Tier I schools. Since major law firms consider students from schools in this category, they are still a good bet for aspiring lawyers. However, students in Tier II schools may have to attain higher ranking in their law schools because if they do not, they will be considered second when applying for a job with a Tier I graduate. Tier III Schools in this category are not ranked but listed in alphabetic order. There are no substantial differences between the schools in this category but they generally rank higher than tier IV schools. Tier III schools lack the success levels of higher tier schools and are ranked poorly by those in academic fields. However, some of the schools in this tier have good reputations in specialties. Tier IV These schools are at the bottom of the ranking. Although students in this category can get a job after graduation, especially in small law firms, those who are employed are normally top students or very near the top of their class. Students awaiting admission to Tier IV law schools should check if the schools perform better in specialties that they are interested. If it does not, wait for another year to go through the application process again. The options available to prospective law students are determined by their grades and ambitions. However, students are advised to cast their nets wide by applying in three batches, each batch with two applications letters. The first batch is for “reach” school application, the second “strong possibility” schools and the third “safety” schools. The reach schools should be Tier I schools, but not necessarily. Some students are limited by geographic location. Prospective law students should learn about the tiers. Knowledge of the tiers will help during the application process. Going to a law school can be a costly endeavor. Because of the amount of investment students put on their law degrees, they should know how their investment would pay off after graduation with a job in a reputable law firm. One way to ensure a secure investment is to seek admission in a top-tier school (Tier I or II). However, students should also know that the law school they choose does not necessarily seal their fate.
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