ASU named a top 25 law school by US News

For the first time in its history, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University is among the top 25 law schools in the nation. According to U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of graduate schools, ASU Law is No. 25, up one spot from last year.

For the seventh consecutive year, ASU Law is the No. 1 law school in Arizona. ASU Law also ranks No. 8 among all U.S. public law schools, and is the No. 3 public law school in the West.

ASU Law also had a strong presence in U.S. News & World Report’s specialty rankings, with four programs in the top 25: Legal Writing at No. 7, Dispute Resolution at No. 11, Health Law at No. 19, and making its specialty rankings debut, Environmental Law at No. 23.

“This significant achievement is a reflection of our students’ success, thanks in large part to the support of our community,” said ASU Law Dean Douglas J. Sylvester. “Because of the generosity of our donors, ASU Law has been able to increase its number of scholarships and develop innovative programs — while keeping tuition low. In turn, we are able to attract the best and brightest students, provide them with incredible opportunities during law school, and help them secure meaningful legal jobs.”

Student opportunities will be enhanced this fall with ASU Law’s move to the new Arizona Center for Law and Society in metropolitan Phoenix — the legal, political and economic heart of Arizona.

Since launching its “Building the Future” campaign three years ago, ASU Law has raised $47 million, with the vast majority of those funds going toward more than 60 scholarships, and development of new programs including the Rule of Law & Governance Program, the Sports Law & Business Program, and the Program on Law & Sustainability. ASU Law offers 250 unique courses and provides more than 300 externships — at least one for every eligible enrolled student — in the Phoenix metro area, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. ASU Law students further receive hands-on practical training in many areas such as patent practice, health-care entrepreneurship, innovation advancement, and Indian law.

ASU Law focuses on quality outcomes for students, and in turn, the community. ASU Law ranks No. 11 in the nation for placing graduates in substantive legal jobs. Within 10 months of graduation, 87 percent of the 2014 class found employment in long-term, full-time positions where bar passage is required or a juris doctor (JD) is preferred, according to statistics gathered by the American Bar Association. ASU Law is also No. 1 in Arizona with a student bar passage rate of 89.1 percent.

ASU Law was founded in 1967 and was renamed in 2006 after Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. ASU is the only law school in the nation to be named after a woman.

“For a law school that has been operating for fewer than 50 years to be so highly ranked is truly amazing,” said Sylvester. “It is a testament to the quality of our students, devotion of our alumni, and deep community support.”