Above the Law recently released their Top 50 Law Schools Ranking, but this year, there is a new twist. The rankings now allow prospective students to customize the data based on their own interests and priorities. This feature was inspired by the Black Guide to Law School’s approach of presenting raw data for students to “choose their own adventure.”
In the past, there have been criticisms of certain factors in the rankings, such as the significance of “Supreme Court clerkship” figures. With the new customization feature, students can adjust the weighting of data points to better align with their career goals. For example, if BIPOC representation is more important to a student, they can increase its weighting to see how it impacts the rankings.
While the new rankings offer a great opportunity for students to tailor the data to their needs, there have been some minor issues with the interface on certain browsers. Despite this, the concept of customizable rankings is seen as a step in the right direction for providing more relevant information to prospective law students.
One example highlighted in the rankings is the rise of schools like Michigan and Washington, which may not have been on the radar of some applicants. This demonstrates how customization can help students discover schools that align with their preferences and goals, even if they were not at the top of the default rankings.
Ultimately, the new approach to law school rankings aims to provide students with a more personalized and meaningful way to evaluate their options. By allowing students to prioritize their criteria, they can make more informed decisions about their legal education and future career. This shift reflects the understanding that every student has unique aspirations and priorities when it comes to pursuing a legal career.