The University of Virginia’s law school on Friday suspended cooperation with the U.S. News and World Report rankings, a development that means nine of the top 10 schools on the influential list are now in open revolt against the prestige-sorting exercise.
In all, at least 17 law schools that U.S. News ranks among the top 50 have joined the rebellion that began when Yale University’s top-ranked law school declared on Nov. 16 that it will not participate. It is one of the most serious challenges to the independent and controversial ranking system in years.
U-Va.’s law school, ranked eighth, joined the movement in a statement from its law dean.
“As they currently stand, the U.S. News rankings fail to capture much of what we value at UVA — facilitating access to legal education and the legal profession for students from every background; fostering the free exchange of ideas within a community of joy, humanity, and trust; providing top-notch teaching by accomplished faculty; supporting public service; and launching our graduates into the stellar career paths of their choosing,” the dean, Risa Goluboff, wrote in an open letter to prospective students.
Goluboff said the school will not submit answers this year to questions that U.S. News poses to gather data for its rankings. The answers are typically due in January.
This is a developing story.