LAS VEGAS - April 23, 2009 -The William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV moved up 13 spots to 75 - its highest rank ever - according to U.S. News & World Report's annual national rankings of the best law schools and specialty programs released Thursday. The move constitutes a 25 place improvement in the past two years for the law school, which was established just 11 years ago.
"The law school - with new, innovative programs and top faculty to lead them - is continuing the momentum that began with a solid foundation. The U.S. News rankings of law schools are but one indication of our continued success at building a world-class faculty and cutting-edge program of legal education," said John V. White, dean of the law school. "The law school's achievements in recent years are many, and, irrespective of recognition of outside rankings, we are proud of our work to provide students with an excellent legal education that emphasizes academic rigor, professionalism, skilled representation and community service."
The Boyd School of Law achieved impressive positions in the following specialty rankings:
o Boyd's Lawyering Process Program - which emphasizes professionalism, the relationship between legal analysis and lawyering skills, including legal writing, research, oral advocacy, client interviewing, counseling and negotiation - remained the third best program of its kind.
o UNLV's Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution ranked the nation's ninth best dispute resolution program.
o The Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic ranked 20th in clinical training.
o In a new category ranking part-time law programs, UNLV's law school was ranked 34th out of 87 accredited law schools.
"The part-time ranking reflects our commitment to having very strong students in our part-time division taught by the same faculty that teaches in the full-time division," White said.
The Boyd School of Law and Legal Education Programs
The William S. Boyd School of Law has more than 450 students and offers three juris doctor degree programs: a full-time day program, a part-time day program and a part-time evening program. The school also offers three dual degree programs: a J.D./MBA, a J.D./M.S.W. and a J.D./Ph.D. It is fully accredited by the American Bar Association and a member of the American Association of Law Schools - accomplishments it achieved in record time.
Lawyering Process Program
The Lawyering Process program emphasizes professionalism and prepares students to enter the workforce proficient in the key language skills of legal practice.
Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution
Established in 2003, the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution is dedicated to advancing education in the field of alternative dispute resolution and provides a venue for advanced study of the nature of conflict and the methods through which conflicts may be resolved. The Center is the 2008 recipient of the prestigious Ninth Circuit ADR Education Award.
Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic
The Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic represents clients in cases involving juvenile justice, immigration, education, post-conviction and criminal appeals.
The law school's externship programs offer students integrated academic and practice-based educational experiences. The programs teach students how to be reflective practitioners and multi-disciplinary professionals, how to improve the quality of and access to legal systems and how to provide service to communities in need of legal assistance in Nevada.
For more information about the William S. Boyd School of Law and its programs go to . To view the U.S. News & World Report rankings, visit .
