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Gonzaga University School of Law Cracks U.S. News & World Report's Top 100 List April, 2009

The Gonzaga University School of Law has moved onto the list of the Top 100 law schools in the nation as ranked by U.S. News & World Report magazine in its Best Graduate Schools, 2010 edition. Gonzaga is tied at 100th place on the 100-school list.

The rankings of 184 law schools fully accredited by the American Bar Association are based on a weighted average of 12 measures of quality. Data were collected in fall 2007 and early 2008. Specialty rankings were based on nomination by legal educators at peer institutions. The magazines are on newsstands today and the rankings are online at www.usnews.com/grad.

Earl Martin, dean of the Gonzaga School of Law, said the good news is the direct result of the hard work and effort by the School's faculty, staff, students and alumni. Martin said he is especially pleased by the improvements made in two categories used to calculate the rankings.

"First, our 3.0 assessment score by lawyers and judges, which is superior to many schools that are ranked above us, speaks to how well regarded the institution is perceived by the bench and bar," Martin said. "Second, the results that our graduates have been achieving on the Washington State bar exam are certainly contributing to our gains in this ranking. Both of these outcomes bear a strong connection to the great work that goes on in our classrooms every single day."

Martin said he is pleased the School's quality is beginning to be more accurately reflected in the publication's rankings.

"All of the improvements and changes we have adopted over the last few years have been embraced because they advance our mission of providing our students with an excellent legal education," Martin said. "Not because they somehow positively impact our place in any ranking. We will always stay focused on the things that fundamentally make GU Law such a high-quality experience for our students."

Nearly 97 percent (96.8) of Gonzaga Law graduates were employed nine months after graduation, the magazine reported.

The rankings are based on the publication's measures for quality assessment (weighted by .40), student selectivity (.25), placement success (.20) and faculty resources (.15).

Law schools not ranked in the Top 100 are listed alphabetically in two groups, the Third Tier and the Fourth Tier. Schools within each of these tiers should be considered of broadly similar quality. The Third Tier ranking begins at 105 and the Fourth Tier starts at No. 142.

For more information, contact Gonzaga Law School Dean Earl Martin at (509) 313-3750.