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National Law Journal Ranks Northwestern No. 2 'Go-To' Law School

Ranking identifies law schools with highest percentage of graduates hired by top firms

CHICAGO --- The National Law Journal (NLJ) has ranked Northwestern University School of Law as the nation’s No. 2 “go-to” law school in its just released 2012 rankings. 

This annual NLJ listing identifies the 50 law schools with the highest percentage of 2011 Juris Doctor (JD) graduates hired by NLJ 250 law firms. See details: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202543436520&THE_GOTO_LAW_SCHOOLS 

In total, 52.1 percent of Northwestern Law 2011 graduates accepted positions with NLJ 250 firms. Last year, Northwestern held the eighth spot with 44.4 percent of its 2010 graduates going to these same firms.

With this most recent result, Northwestern has ranked in the top five on this measure for five of the past six years (and always in the top 10 during the same period). 

The list of “go-to” law schools was compiled from recruiting information that law firms provided on The National Law Journal’s annual survey of the nation’s largest law firms.

Additionally, The National Law Journal “identified firm favorites – the schools where NLJ 250 firms recruited the most graduates.” Northwestern Law is the favorite of three firms --Baker & McKenzie, Kirkland & Ellis and McDermott Will & Emery. See details: http://www.law.com/jsp/nlj/PubArticleNLJ.jsp?id=1202543464014&Firm_Favorites_of_

This is the second time in recent months that Northwestern has placed highly in an employment-based ranking. Last fall, The Princeton Review designated Northwestern Law No. #1 for Best Career Prospects.