The University of St. Thomas School of Law jumped 24 places, the second largest improvement of any law school, to rank 111 in the U.S. News and World Report law program ranking.

“That really shows you the quality that we produce in our programming for students,” said Lisa Brabbit, senior assistant dean for external relations and programs at the St. Thomas School of Law. “I think what’s happening is reality – we’re starting to better represent the school that we are.”

The School of Law was also ranked the No. 2 law school in the nation for practical training by the National Jurist ahead of Yale Law School and beaten only by Northeastern University School of Law. The Princeton Review also ranked them in the top 10 for best professors and quality of life.

Although Brabbit said she is excited about the rankings, she said they are not what drives the institution.

“The rankings are not the reason we exist,” Brabbit said. “We have a mission, and we aim to help our students advance the common good by bringing a deeper sense of purpose into their professional practice.”

First-year law student Anna Guler said she thinks the rankings will give her and other future graduates a better shot at getting a job in the Twin Cities market.

“This is going to be great, especially when it comes to job prospects in the Twin Cities area and Minnesota in general because we’re becoming more recognized as a law school,” Guler said. “Employers will see that and give more students a chance … because we’re producing well-trained attorneys.”

While the School of Law is nationally recognized for its practical and clinical training programs, Brabbit said the school’s ability to incorporate the Catholic mission and faculty research is what makes it unique.

“We bring the faith perspective, we bring the practical perspective, we bring the theoretical perspective,” Brabbit said. “We connect scholarship to the student experience.”

First-year student Leah Miller said she thinks the university’s mission statement has guided the School of Law towards these rankings.

“I think the law school goes above and beyond the mission statement,” Miller said. “You don’t necessarily need the ratings to validate that, but the ratings are great.”