Watch out Ivy League, Alabama ranks among nation’s top law schools

—

March 10, 2015

"Lady Justice" Flickr user Scott* — “Lady Justice” Flickr user Scott*

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama School of Law is one of the best law schools in the nation, according to a new ranking by U.S. News & World Report, showing that some of the country’s best lawyers are #BuiltByBama.

The UA School of Law tied with George Washington University, the University of Iowa, and Notre Dame for #22 on the list, but a closer look at the numbers may actually set the school head and shoulders above the others.

This is the school’s third consecutive top-25 ranking by the organization, and is up a space from #23 in the last year.

Besides being one of the highest-ranked public law schools in the Southeast, UA’s law school has the lowest cost of attendance of any of the schools ranked above it.

At only $21,624 per year for full-time in-state students, the UA School of Law costs less than half as much as the schools above it on the list.

For perspective, here are the top 10 law schools, and their yearly tuition.

1. Yale University $56,200
2 (tied). Harvard University $55,842
2 (tied). Stanford University $54,366
4 (tied). Columbia University $60,274
4 (tied). University of Chicago $55,503
6. New York University $56,838
7. University of Pennsylvania $56,916
8 (tied). Duke University $55,588
8 (tied). University of California-Berkeley $48,166
8 (tied). University of Virginia $51,800

“We are pleased with this national recognition,” said UA School of Law Dean Mark E. Brandon in a press release. “The ranking is an indication that the faculty, administration, and staff of Alabama Law continue to attract outstanding students, provide them a first-rate education, and see them begin successful legal careers.”

The University of Alabama Law School is the alma mater of some of the state’s most notable leaders. Senator Jeff Sessions earned his Juris Doctorate from the school in 1973, Congressman Mo Brooks, and recently retired Representative Spencer Bachus did as well. The late federal judge Robert Vance graduated from UA’s law school in 1952, and even famed “To Kill a Mockingbird” author Harper Lee attended the school, though she didn’t graduate.

The rankings were determined by assessing 12 measures of quality of the 198 fully accredited law schools across the country. U.S. News & World Report looked at the average LSAT scores, acceptance rates, assessment scores from U.S. lawyers and judges, bar passage rates, and employment rates, among other measures.