“Celebrate what you want to see more of.” – Tom Peters
“Your playing small does not serve the world.” – Marianne Williamson
This morning, U.S. News & World Report (U.S. News) released its national law school rankings. The news was very good. In fact, it was great news!
- C|MLAW rose 14 places (from 127 to 113) in the U.S. News Rankings.
- C|M|LAW had the fourth highest increase among the nation’s 194 full time ABA accredited law schools. Only 3 law schools in the country had a larger increase in ranking.
- C|M|LAW ranked fourth in the state of Ohio and we are still the highest ranked public law school in Northern Ohio.
- Our longstanding part time program ranks first in the state, tied with the University of Toledo College of Law.
U.S. News rankings are based on 12 indicators - some from 2017 and some lagging indicators from 2016. C|M|LAW increased this year in the areas of median undergraduate GPA of entering students, selectivity in applicant acceptance, full-time employment 10 months after graduation, student/faculty ratio, and national peer assessment.
While the rankings don’t tell the whole story, they measure factors that affirm that C|M|LAW’s innovative curricular changes and student-centered initiatives are leading us in the right direction. We’ve not only shown resilience during the challenges to the nation’s law schools, but have emerged as a leading institution with a strong future.
C|M|LAW is a great public law school with a national voice, especially in view of our talented student body, our dedicated staff, our highly accomplished faculty, and our supportive and successful alumni.
Our expanded industry-aligned certifications in Health Care Law and e-discovery, and our new Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection, Global Space Law Center, C|MLAW Tech Program, and Pop-up Clinic program on cutting-edge legal issues, are attracting national attention.
We’re very proud of our national award-winning Moot Court Team, our groundbreaking Master of Legal Studies program, and our expanded clinical and professional skills opportunities.
Our physical facilities, within a short walking distance of most of Cleveland’s law firms and major companies, include one of the most state of the art law libraries in the country, our Solo Incubator that supports entrepreneurial new graduates, our technologically advanced Trial Courtroom for simulated learning, and our state-of-the-art collaborative Rawson Learning Commons.
We are in the midst of the most comprehensive strategic planning process in our 121-year history. Our plan is focused on strategic goals, metrics, accountability, and, most of all, teamwork. Our faculty, students, staff, alumni, and community stakeholders must and will work together to link and leverage our distinctive strengths.
We are very pleased with our success, but we are not satisfied. We always can do even better, and we will. In fact, given the incredible speed of the changing legal market, it is essential. That’s what strategic planning and progress is all about.
Thanks again.
My best,
Lee
My views in all my Monday Morning Messages are my personal views alone and do not reflect the views of our Law School or our University.