The University’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center ranked in the top 100 programs on U.S. News and World Report’s latest list of best graduate schools. Rankings of 184 fully-accredited American Bar Association law schools placed the Law Center at No. 88 in the nation, tying with six other schools: Catholic University, DePaul University, Northeastern University, St. John’s University, University of Denver and University of Nevada. The school was ranked No. 91 this past year. Law Center Chancellor Jack Weiss said he attributes the improvement in rankings to the recruitment of new, talented faculty and outstanding students. Weiss said the word is out that the center is moving toward a model clinical education program. “Law students, like medical students, should be given the opportunity to work with live clients,” Weiss said. “We have in the past been lagging behind in that aspect of legal education, and now we’re moving forward aggressively to put in place a clinical legal education program that we hope will truly be first rate.” Weiss said the center will offer several new clinical courses in the fall. He said it will phase in live-client clinicals and externship programs in state and local government over the next three years. The center appointed a director to develop its clinical education program this past week. Amanda Ledford, first-year law student, said providing more clinical practice for students will improve the center’s ranking. Ledford said students are limited to the practice they find on their own. She said many other law schools have graduation requirements that include clinical practice hours. U.S. News and World Report ranks graduate programs based on quality of students, faculty and education resources. Quality of students, or selectivity, is determined by the median LSAT scores, median undergraduate GPA and acceptance rates. “Obviously, as one becomes more selective in admissions and admits more and more students, that has a significant impact on the standings,” Weiss said. The rankings take into account student placement success – the number of students passing the bar exam or getting high-paying job. The publication uses survey findings to assign each school a peer assessment score and an assessment score by lawyers and judges. These responses account for 40 percent of the school’s score. Weiss said it is difficult for some to understand the caliber of education students receive from obtaining a bijural degree. The Law Center is the only school in the country that requires all students to obtain a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Civil Law simultaneously. Jason Barlow, first-year law student, said he attributes the high ranking to the bijural degree program. He said the program sets the school apart from others. Barlow said the score is an accurate portrayal of the caliber of the school. “There are so many law schools in the country, and they’re all really competitive. So being 88 is still pretty good,” Barlow said. Weiss said he hopes the center’s reputation will continue to rise as people notice its growth. “I think the important thing is that if you look at these rankings, you’ll see that very small numbers of points separate schools in these rankings, and a point here or there can make a big difference,” Weiss said. Weiss said he is delighted the school received a high ranking, although his primary goal is to make the center and excellent law school. He said the ranking is a “positive by-product of doing the things we need to do to make the LSU Law Center better and better.” Other University graduate programs ranked include public affairs, No. 57, E.J. Ourso School of Business, No. 62, and fine arts, No. 76.
Public affairs and fine arts were ranked solely on a peer assessment survey. The public affairs program is part of the business school. Its ranking increased from No. 92 to No. 57 in three years. It ranked No. 40 among public institutions. James Richardson, public administration director, said in a news release that the ranking “reveals the productivity of the LSU Public Administration faculty, the acceptance of the LSU MPA Program throughout the nation and the increasing recognition and visibility of LSU as a flagship university.” The ranking listed for the College of Business represents its Flores MBA Program, which ranked No. 33 among public schools.
—-Contact Emily Holden at [email protected]