Who Responds to U.S. News & World Report's Law School Rankings?. Issue 3 (September 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Stake, Jeffrey Evans; Alexeev, Michael
• Is Part Of: Journal of empirical legal studies. Volume 12:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 421
• Page End: 480
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Subjects: Law -- Periodicals; Law -- Research -- Periodicals; 340
• DOI: 10.1111/jels.12078
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-1453

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>U.S. News &amp; World Report</italic> (<italic>USN&amp;WR</italic>) publishes annual rankings of ABA‐approved law schools. The popularity of these rankings raises the question of whether they influence the behavior of law teachers, lawyers and judges, law school applicants, employers, or law school administrators. This study explores some indicia of <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> influence. Using data purchased from <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic>, we attempt to determine whether <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> might have influenced (1) law faculty members who respond to the <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> survey of law school quality, (2) lawyers who respond to <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> surveys, (3) law school applicants choosing a school, (4) employers who hire law school graduates, and (5) administrators who set tuition. We find significant effects on the first three groups, particularly with respect to lower‐rank schools. That is, there may be "echo effects" of <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> rankings that are folded back into subsequent rankings and tend to stabilize them. We also find that rankings may exert some influence on tuition at law schools outside the top 40. We do not find evidence that employers hiring law graduates respond to changes in <italic>USN&amp;WR</italic> rankings, either in median salaries paid or in employment percentages reported by law schools.</p> </abstract>