Ranked 13th in Trial Advocacy, 6th in Legal Writing and 20th in Intellectual Property Law
The John Marshall Law School is ranked among the top law schools in the country in the 2012 edition of US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools published on March 15, 2011. Three John Marshall programs—legal writing, trial advocacy and intellectual property law—also are included in the specialties rankings.
“It’s always nice to be well spoken of,” Dean John E. Corkery said. “We have been doing a lot of good things at John Marshall. We’re pleased with the recognition.” US News & World Report changed its rankings system this
year to just two tiers, from its previous method of four tiers. Under the new system, John Marshall moved to a ranking of 140th in the top tier.
The law school’s Legal Writing Program continues its sixth place ranking. It is one of the most rigorous research/writing programs in the country, designed to immerse students in the art of legal writing and research over four semesters. “Our national ranking is an additional recognition of the strength of our program and the faculty who teach in it. We believe our legal writing program is a model for other law schools,” said Professor Anthony Niedwiecki, director of the writing program.
John Marshall’s Trial Advocacy Program is ranked 13th in the country. Its Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution has a legacy of producing courtroom-ready attorneys, as well as maintaining its national reputation of success. Each year, trial teams that compete in numerous competitions are prepared through rigorous practice sessions conducted by the Center’s faculty, adjunct faculty and alumni. “Our advocacy center has trained and fielded several national championship trial teams over the last few years and we’re very happy that our colleagues at other law schools have acknowledged our students’ hard work and achievements in this very competitive area,” said Center Director and Clinical Professor Susann “Sunny” MacLachlan.
John Marshall’s Intellectual Property (IP) Program is ranked 20th in the nation. The IP Program, one of the oldest in the country, offers more than 30 specialized IP courses, making it one of the most extensive sets of IP offerings anywhere. The program has partnered with the IP lawyers in the Peoples Republic of China for more than 15 years and draws students from across the country and around the world. Professor Richard Gruner, director of the Center for Intellectual Property Law, said, “The national recognition of our IP program in the current rankings reflects the recognition the program has secured in other quarters. It also is consistent with the depth of John Marshall’s IP course offerings, the new initiatives of our Chinese IP Resource Center, and the academic
excellence of our IP faculty.”