Go-To Law Schools 2022 logo Each year, Law.com ranks the 50 law schools that sent the highest percentage of J.D.s into associate positions at the largest 100 law firms in the country. For the ninth consecutive year, Columbia Law School topped the list, with 285—nearly 64%—of its recent graduate class now working in Big Law. But there was still some movement among the top five. The University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School moved into second place from fourth place last year with 153, nearly 60%, of 2021 graduates working in Big Law. Cornell Law School held its third place position for another year with 110, 56% of its recent graduates working in Big Law. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law dropped to fourth place from second last year with 143 (52%) of recent grads working in Big Law. Duke University Law School moved to fifth from sixth place, switching spots with New York University School of Law, with the former sending 51% and the latter sending just shy of 51% of recent grads to Big Law. Brooklyn Law School had one of the biggest jumps this year, moving up to No. 37 from nearly the bottom of the list, No. 49, last year. St. John's University, ranking at No. 43 with 13% of recent grads working in Big Law, made it back onto the list after missing the cut last year. Yeshiva University Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law held steady at No. 38, though the percentage of its grads joining Big Law jumped from 12% last year to 15%. Fordham University School of Law dropped 2 spots to No. 19 this year.   Read the entire 2022 Go-To Law Schools report on Law.com. Other notable increases among the rankings included Vanderbilt University Law School, which moved up eight spots to No. 13, sending 76, 39%, of its recent graduates to Big Law, while University of Illinois College of Law moved to No. 28 from No. 40, sending 25, 20%, of its 2021 graduates to Big Law. Additionally, University of California, Hasting College of Law sent nearly 18%, 51, of its recent graduates to the 100 largest firms, moving up to No. 32 from No. 46. Further, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law climbed to No. 30, up nine places from last year, with more than 18% of its 2021 grads working in Big Law. The University of California, Davis School of Law moved to No. 35 from No. 43 last year with nearly 16%, 32, of its 2021 graduates working in Big Law. There were also several newcomers to the top 50 this year: Northeastern University School of Law (No. 44); University of Georgia School of Law (No. 45); and University of Miami School of Law (No. 48). The following law schools, all of which which ranked near or at the bottom of the list last year, didn't make the cut for this year's top 50: University of Minnesota Law School (No. 41 last year), University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law (No. 44 last year), Seton Hall University School of Law (No. 47 last year) and University of San Diego School of Law (No. 50 last year). Two T14 law schools saw fairly significant drops in this year's rankings, including Stanford Law School, which fell from 13th place last year to 20th this year, sending 53 (29%) of its recent graduates to Big Law. Last year, the school sent 71 grads (39%) to the 100 largest firms. Similarly, Yale University Law School dropped to 23rd from 16th last year, with 59 (nearly 27%) of its recent graduates now working in Big Law as compared to 70 (34%) last year. Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, also dropped, placing 40th this year, with more than 14% of its recent graduates now working in Big Law, after coming in at No. 32 last year. Some of the most significant decreases in this year's rankings included University of North Carolina School of Law, which dropped to 42nd place from 29th last year, sending 29 (nearly 14%) of its 2021 grads to Big Law. Last year, the school sent 33 (17%) of its J.D.'s to the 100 largest firms. In addition, the University of Iowa College of Law came it at No. 47 this year, down 16 spots from last year, sending 16 (11.7%) of its recent grads to Big Law. Last year, the school sent 21 (16%) of its grads to Big Law.

The Top 50 Go-To Law Schools: