Akron Law specialty programs maintain high U.S. News rankings

Akron Law students confer with the judge in a mock trial at the school’s annual Summer Trial Academy.

The University of Akron School of Law’s Trial Advocacy program dramatically improved its standing in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools specialty rankings, rising to No. 24 from No. 38 last year. This is the highest ranking among Ohio’s law schools, and the second highest in the broader region encompassing Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, western Pennsylvania and upstate New York.

The Intellectual Property (IP) Law program also maintained a high ranking, No. 51, which is the highest in Ohio and the third highest in the same broader region. Akron’s Part-time law program ranked 49th, the second highest among the state’s law schools.

The Law School also earned 2023 Top School ratings from National Jurist’s PreLaw magazine for both Trial Advocacy and IP Law.

“We are pleased to be recognized again by U.S. News and PreLaw magazine for our long-standing strength in trial advocacy and IP law,” School of Law dean Emily Janoski-Haehlen said.

“While prospective law students should avoid overreliance on U.S. News or any other ranking system, we believe the specialty rankings are of some value, as they are voted on by experts in those fields,” she added.

“Our Center for Intellectual Property Law and Technology, established in 1996, has long been recognized as one of the country’s leading IP programs. We offer four degrees, two IP-related legal clinics, a D.C. IP externship program, and more than 30 courses in the field. With over 20% of the school’s student body patent bar-qualified, Akron Law is one of the most IP-intensive schools in the nation.

“Our Trial Advocacy reputation is due in part to our annual Summer Trial Academy and the consistently outstanding performance of our student trial teams. This spring, our team of 2Ls Casey Ruppen, Alyssa Pijanowski and Kelsey Jennings and 3L Rachel Pearson notched another American Association for Justice Student Trial Advocacy Competition (AAJ STAC) regional championship and advanced to the national championship in New Orleans.”