10/9/09--Boston College Law School is listed as one of the nation's top law schools, and appears in the top ten for both Career Prospects, as well as for the category "Professors Rock (Legally Speaking)" in The Princeton Review's newly released 2010 edition of its "Best 172 Law Schools" (Random House / Princeton Review, Oct. 6, 2009, $22.99).


According to Robert Franek, Princeton Review Senior VP-Publishing, "We are pleased to recommend Boston College to readers of our book and users of our website as one of the best institutions they could attend to earn a law school degree.   We chose the 172 schools for this book based on our high opinion of their academic programs and offerings, as well as our review of institutional data we collect from the schools.  We also strongly consider the candid opinions of students attending the schools who rate and report on their campus experiences at their schools on our student survey for the book."

"The Best 172 Law Schools: 2010 Edition" has two-page profiles of the schools with write-ups on their academics, student life and admissions, plus ratings for their academics, selectivity and career placement services. According to the survey, BC Law has "Great Research Resources" and a "Great Library Staff."

The ranking also comments on the social atmosphere at BC Law and the sense of community that is felt amongst the professors and students. The school is described as "interesting, intellectual, and fun" with professors who are "top of their field” and “challenge their students to think critically without subjecting [them] to cruel and unusak punishment." The superior professors are complimented by students who are "highly normal" and "willing to help"-- quite different from the stereotype of competitive, cutthroat law students.

The school is one of the top in the nation for Career Prospects, having a 97% rate of placement within 9 months of graduation, and an average starting salary of $124,025. The high career placement rate is bolstered by the willingness of students and faculty to use personal contacts to "help advance a student’s career," and numerous school-sponsored events with Boston attorneys and alumni that enable students to "get a position at a top law firm with relative ease."

The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in the book on a single hierarchical list from 1 to 172, or name one law school best overall.  Instead, the book has 11 ranking lists of the top 10 law schools in various categories.  Ten lists are based on The Princeton Review's surveys of 18,000 students attending the 172 law schools profiled in the book. The lists are posted at www.PrincetonReview.com.