Super Lawyers Rates Law Schools

You may have seen the Super Lawyers Magazine at one time or another.  Their web site maintains a database of the cream of the crop practicing attorneys.  They have come up with an alternative ranking for law schools.  They rank schools by the number of attorneys in their database.  The usual suspects are in the top 20, but the order is surprising as it does not track US News rankings.  More surprises follow for the schools just below 20.

It's not easy to become noted as a Super Lawyer.  This isn't a directory where attorneys buy their way in and out of a listing.  From the FAQ:

In selecting attorneys for Super Lawyers, Law & Politics employs a rigorous, multiphase process. Peer nominations and evaluations are combined with third party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Since Super Lawyers is intended to be used as an aid in the selection of a lawyer, we limit the list to attorneys who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

The Super Lawyers selection process involves three basic steps: creation of the candidate pool; evaluation of candidates by the research department; and peer evaluation by practice area.

The information about the law school rankings is here, and the rankings themselves are here.  [MG]