Suffolk University Law School has been ranked among the nation’s top law schools, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 “Best Law Schools” rankings released today. Suffolk Law is one of only three law schools nationwide to have been ranked in all four legal skills specialties—clinics, legal writing, trial advocacy and dispute resolution—and the only law school to have done so for two years running.

An upswing in Suffolk Law’s academic reputation scores among law school deans and professors nationally played a key role in driving Suffolk Law’s ranking up 10 spots and into the U.S. News “Top Schools” ranked category, at 140.

Suffolk Law’s part-time program also jumped in the rankings, rising 14 spots to 24th in the nation on the U.S. News list of such programs, putting it in the top 30 percent nationally. Last year, the part-time program was ranked 38th nationally.

Suffolk Law received top U.S. News rankings in the experiential skills specialty areas as follows:

• Suffolk Law’s Legal Writing program placed 6th in the nation. The program has ranked in the top 10 for six consecutive years.
• Suffolk Law’s Trial Advocacy program ranked 16th nationally, the second year in a row that it has been ranked in the top 20.
• Suffolk Law’s clinical programs ranked 17th nationally and have placed in the top 25 nine of the past 10 years.
• Suffolk Law’s Dispute Resolution program also ranked 17th. It has been in the top 20 for six years running.

Additionally, Suffolk Law’s Intellectual Property Law program ranked 27th nationally. The IP program has been ranked among top programs three of the past four years.

Suffolk Law is one of just 14 law schools nationwide to be ranked in five or more specialty programs.

Suffolk Law Dean Andrew Perlman attributed the upward movement to a growing understanding of the extraordinary quality of a Suffolk Law education and the strength of its curriculum and faculty.

“I’m delighted that this year’s rankings recognize what our students and alumni have known for generations: Suffolk Law offers an outstanding legal education that prepares students extraordinarily well for professional success,” Perlman said.

Said Suffolk University Acting President Marisa Kelly: “Suffolk Law is a leader in preparing students to compete in a fast-changing legal marketplace because of our commitment to educational excellence and innovation in the classroom integrated with relevant experiential learning opportunities. We are pleased to see that excellence recognized in the most recent rankings.”