Arizona Law #40 in U.S. News, #7 in National Jurist Practical Training Ranking
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law has moved up in two recent rankings.
Arizona Law is ranked #40 in the 2017 U.S. News and World Report Best Law Schools list, up from #42 last year. The college is in the top-20 of public law schools. Meanwhile, the spring 2016 issue of National Jurist magazine places Arizona Law as #7 in the country for practical training, up from #20 last year.
"We always strive to do what’s best for our students and the college and continuously innovate," said Dean Marc Miller. "Of course it’s nice to be recognized by others."
U.S. News ranks schools on 12 measures, including peer assessment, assessment by lawyers and judges, selectivity, bar passage rate, and job placement success. The 2017 rankings are based on data collected in fall 2015 and spring 2016, with career data based on the Class of 2014 graduates.
The Arizona Law employment rate 10 months after graduation for the 144 members of the Class of 2014 was 81.9 percent, one of the highest rates in the West region.
The National Jurist practical training ranking is based on data submitted to the American Bar Association in four categories: clinics (accounting for 38 percent of the ranking), simulation courses (21 percent), externship placements (24 percent) and interschool competitions (5 percent). The magazine also considers additional information provided by the schools (10 percent).
Arizona Law is home to 16 faculty-led clinics in addition to a number of student-organized community clinics. The college guarantees clinical placement for every student who wants it, and many report that their clinical experience is a highlight of their education.
“I gained useful courtroom experience while representing our clients, and I [was] able to hone my negotiating skills while working out plea agreements with the prosecutors,” said Sean Estrada, a Class of 2014 graduate who participated in the Veterans’ Advocacy Clinic, the nation’s first law school clinical program that directly partnered with a Veterans Court.
Arizona Law also offers a variety of simulation courses that allow students to practice real-world lawyering skills in the classroom. For example, students in legendary trial technique expert Thomas Mauet’s Trial Advocacy class act as trial counsel in mock jury trials, executing skills such as jury selection, direct examination, and opening and closing arguments.