Top 50 Law Schools Based on Scholarly Impact, 2018

Professor Gregory Sisk & colleagues have updated their scholarly impact ratings (last edition), looking at mean and median citations to tenured faculty scholarship for the years 2013-2017 inclusive, using fall 2018 faculty rosters as the benchmark.  (Sisk et al. rank 70 faculties; I print the top 50, below.)  The weighted score represents the sum of the mean citations for the tenured faculty times 2, plus the faculty median.  Where the median is low relative to the immediate competition that's an indicator that a few highly cited faculty are carrying the school; in other cases, where the median is quite high, it's an indicator of more across the boards scholarly output.  By noting age, one can see that some faculties are heavily dependent on their most senior members for their citations.  Ties reflect the normalized weighted scores.

The citation counts were done during a two-week window in late May of this year in the Westlaw database as follow:  TE(Brian /2 Leiter) and date (aft 2012) and date (bef 2018).  "TE" limited the results to the body of the text, thus eliminating references to names in acknowledgments.  Although the searches were done in May of 2018, it's clear the pre-2018 database expanded after May (e.g., I had 553 hits when Sisk & colleagues did the study, while the same search, today, yields 589--that's a higher increase than in some other cases that were checked).  Across whole schools this won't matter, since the database was relatively stable during the two-week window when the data was collected.

Citations to faculty scholarship in law journals is, of course, only one metric of scholarly distinction and accomplishment.  Still, it is a useful check on uninformed opinions, and tracks rather well the actual scholarly output of different schools.  I'll have a few more substantive comments on the 2018 results tomorrow.

Over the coming weeks, I will post new lists of the most-cited scholars by specialty utilizing the Sisk data.

Results below the fold:

Detailed Scholarly Impact Ranking of Law Faculties, 2018

Ranking	Law School	Weighted Score	Mean	Median	Most Cited Scholars (* indicates 70 or older in 2018)
1	Yale University	1474	540	394	*Ackerman, B.; Amar, A.; Ayres, I.; Balkin, J.; Eskridge, W.; Kahan, D.; Koh, H.; Macey, J.; *Post, R.; Siegel, R.
2	Harvard University	1252	467	318	Bebchuk, L.; Fallon, R.; Goldsmith, J.; Kaplow, L.; Lessig, L.; *Shavell, S.; Sunstein, C.; *Tribe, L.; *Tushnet, M.; Vermeule, A.
3	University of Chicago	1119	394	331	Baird, D.; Ben-Shahar, O.; Ginsburg, T.; Huq, A.; Leiter, B.; *Nussbaum, M.; Posner, E.; *Stone, G.; Strahilevitz, L.; Strauss, D.
4	New York University	979	349	281	Barkow, R.; *Epstein, R.; Friedman, B.; Issacharoff, S.; *Miller, A.; Miller, G.; Pildes, R.; Revesz, R.; *Stewart, R.; Waldron, J.
5	Columbia University	892	325	242	*Coffee, J.; Crenshaw, K.; *Gilson, R.; *Greenawalt, K.; Merrill, T.; Metzger, G.; *Monaghan, H.; *Raz, J.; *Scott, R.; Wu, T.
6	Stanford University	862	316	230	*Friedman, L.; *Gordon, R.; Karlan, P.; Lemley, M.; McConnell, M.; O'Connell, A.; Persily, N.; *Polinsky, A.; Rhode, D.; Sklansky, D.; Sykes, A.
7	University of California, Berkeley	803	305	193	Chemerinsky, E.; *Cooter, R.; Davidoff Solomon, S.; Farber, D.; Haney Lopez, I.; Menell, P.; Merges, R.; *Samuelson, P.; Yoo, J.; *Zimring, F.
8	Duke University	763	266	231	Adler, M.; Bradley, C.; *Cox, J.; Garrett, B.; Gulati, M.; Helfer, L.; Rai, A.; Schwarcz, S.; Siegel, N.; Young, E.
9	University of Pennsylvania	722	267	188	Bratton, W.; *Burbank, S.; Coglianese, C.; Fisch, J.; Hoffman, D.; *Hovenkamp, H.; Parchomovsky, G.; Roberts, D.; *Robinson, P.; Skeel, D.
10	Vanderbilt University	671	251	169	Blair, M.; Bressman, L.; Guthrie, C.; King, N.; Rossi, J.; *Rubin, E.; Ruhl, J.B.; Sherry, S.; Slobogin, C.; Viscusi, W.
11	University of California, Los Angeles	644	231	182	Bainbridge, S.; Carbado, D.; Crenshaw, K.; Kang, J.; Korobkin, R.; Motomura, H.; Raustiala, K.; Salzman, J.; Volokh, E.; Winkler, A.
12	University of California, Irvine	638	232	174	Burk, D. ; Fleischer, V.; Garth, B.; Hasen, R.; Leslie, C.; Menkel-Meadow, C.; Natapoff, A.; Reese, A.; Richardson, L.S.; Shaffer, G.
13	Cornell University	620	210	200	*Alexander, G.; Blume, J.; *Clermont, K.; Dorf, M.; Grimmelmann, J.; Hans, V.; Heise, M.; Peñalver, E.; Rachlinski, J.; Schwab, S.
14	University of Michigan	560	194	172	Avi-Yonah, R.; Bagenstos, S.; Crane, D.; Eisenberg, R.; Litman, J.; *MacKinnon, C.; Mendelson, N.; Pritchard, A.; Schlanger, M.; *Schneider, C.
14	Northwestern University	556	207	142	*Allen, R.; Black, B.; Calabresi, S.; Dana, D.; *Diamond, S.; Koppelman, A.; McGinnis, J.; Pfander, J.; *Redish, M.; Rodriguez, D.; Schwartz, D.
16	George Washington University	537	200	137	Abramowicz, M.; Cahn, N.; Cunningham, L.; Glicksman, R.; Kovacic, W.; Murphy, S.; *Pierce, R.; Rosen, J.; Selmi, M.; Solove, D.
16	University of Virginia	529	203	123	*Abraham, K.; Brown, D.; Duffy, J.; *Jeffries, J.; *Kitch, E.; *Laycock, D.; Nelson, C.; Prakash, S.; *Schauer, F.; *White, G.E.
16	Georgetown University	527	196	135	Barnett, R.; Cohen, J.; Cole, D.; Katyal, N.; Langevoort, D.; Levitin, A.; Luban, D.; Solum, L.; Thompson, R.; West, R.
19	University of Texas, Austin	492	173	146	Baker, L.; Bone, R.; Golden, J.; *Levinson, S.; McGarity, T.; Mullenix, L.; *Sager, L.; Silver, C.; Vladeck, S.; Wagner, W.; *Westbrook, J.
19	George Mason University	485	176	133	Bernstein, D.; Butler, H.; *Ginsburg, D.; Greve, M.; Kobayashi, B.; Kontorovich, E.; Mossoff, A.; Muris, T.; Somin, I.; Wright, J.; Zywicki, T.
21	University of Minnesota	467	169	129	Carbone, J.; Cotter, T.; *Frase, R.; Hickman, K.; Hill, C.; Klass, A.; *Kritzer, H.; McDonnell, B.; Painter, R.; *Tonry, M.
21	Washington University, St. Louis	465	166	133	*Appleton, S.; De Geest, G.; Epstein, L.; Joy, P.; Kim, P.; Law, D.; Levin, R.; *Mandelker, D.; Richards, N.; Tamanaha, B.
23	University of California, Davis	445	165	115	Bhagwat, A.; Chin, G.; Dodge, W.; Elmendorf, C.; Hillman, R.; Horton, D.; Joh, E.; Johnson, K.; Joslin, C.; Lee, P.; Pruitt, L.
23	University of St. Thomas (Minneapolis)	438	158	122	Berg, T.; *Delahunty, R.; *Hamilton, N.; Johnson, L.; Kaal, W.; Nichols, J.; Organ, J.; Paulsen, M.; Sisk, G.; Vischer, R.
23	University of Southern California	437	166	105	Barnett, J.; Brown, R.; Estrich, S.; Guzman, A.; Kerr, O.; Kleinbard, E.; Klerman, D.; McCaffery, E.; Rasmussen, R.; Simkovic, M.; Simon, D.
26	University of Notre Dame	421	138	145	Alford, R.; Bellia, P.; Cushman, B.; *Finnis, J.; Garnett, R.; McKenna, M.; Miller, P.; Nagle, J.; *Newton, N.; O'Connell, M.; Smith, S.; Tidmarsh, J.
27	Boston University	420	156	108	Beermann, J.; Dogan, S.; Fleming, J.; Gordon, W.; Hylton, K.; Lawson, G.; Maclin, T.; McClain, L.; Meurer, M.; Onwuachi-Willig, A.
28	College of William & Mary	382	126	130	Bellin, J.; Bruhl, A.; Criddle, E.; Devins, N.; Gershowitz, A.; Grove, T.; Heymann, L.; *Marcus, P.; Meese, A.; Oman, N.; Zick, T.
29	University of Colorado, Boulder	374	129	116	Anaya, J.; Campos, P.; Gruber, A.; Hart, M.; *Mueller, C.; Norton, H.; Peppet, S.; Schlag, P.; Schwartz, A.; Weiser, P.
29	Florida State University	372	133	106	Abbott, F.; Hsu, S.; Johnson, S.; Kahn, J.; Landau, D.; Logan, W.; Markell, D.; O’Hara O’Connor, E.; Ryan, E.; Seidenfeld, M.; Wiseman, H.; Wiseman, S.; Ziegler, M.
29	Fordham University	369	131	107	Brudney, J.; Davidson, N.; Denno, D.; Erichson, H.; Green, B.; Griffith, S.; Huntington, C.; Leib, E.; Reidenberg, J.; Zipursky, B.
32	Cardozo Law School/Yeshiva University	353	126	101	Buccafusco, C.; Gilles, M.; Herz, M.; Markowitz, P.; Reinert, A.; *Rosenfeld, M.; Scheck, B.; Sebok, A.; Sterk, S.; Zelinsky, E.
32	Emory University	348	128	92	Dudziak, M.; *Fineman, M.; Freer, R.; Holbrook, T.; Nash, J.; *Perry, M.; Schapiro, R.; Shepherd, J.; Volokh, A.; Witte, J.
32	Case Western Reserve University	347	131	85	Adler, J.; Berg, J.; Hill, J.; Hoffman, S.; *Katz, L.; Ku, R.; McMunigal, K.; Nard, C.; Perzanowski, A.; Robertson, C.; Scharf, M.
32	University of Arizona	346	119	108	Bambauer, D.; Bambauer, J.; Engel, K.; *Glennon, R.; Massaro, T.; Miller, M.; Orbach, B.; Robertson, C.; Sjostrom, W.; Tsosie, R.
36	Indiana University, Bloomington	344	120	104	Dau-Schmidt, K.; Fidler, D.; Fischman, R.; Gamage, D.; Geyh, C.; Henderson, W.; Janis, M.; Johnsen, D.; Lederman, L.; Widiss, D.
36	University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign	343	132	79	Amar, V.; *Finkin, M.; Heald, P.; Kesan, J.; Lawless, R.; Mazzone, J.; *Moore, M.; Robbennolt, J.; Tabb, C.; Thomas, S.; Wilson, R.
36	University of North Carolina	333	120	93	Conley, J.; Gerhardt, M.; *Hazen, T.; Hessick, A.; Hessick, C.; Jacoby, M.; Marshall, W.; *Mosteller, R.; Nichol, G.; *Orth, J.
36	University of  San Diego	333	134	65	*Alexander, L.; Bell, A.; Dripps, D.; Hirsch, A.; Lobel, O.; McGowan, D.; Ramsey, M.; Rappaport, M.; Sichelman, T.; Smith, S.
36	Arizona State University	332	125	82	*Abbott, K.; Bodansky, D.; *Clinton, R.; Fellmeth, A.; Hodge, J.; Luna, E.; Marchant, G.; *Murphy, J.; *Saks, M.; Weinstein, J.
41	University of Maryland (Baltimore)	326	127	72	Citron, D.; Ertman, M.; Goodmark, L.; Graber, M.; Gray, D.; Pasquale, F.; Percival, R.; Pinard, M.; Stearns, M.; Steinzor, R.
41	University of Utah	323	118	87	Adler, R.; Anghie, A.; Baughman, S.; Cassell, P.; Contreras, J.; Craig, R.; Davies, L.; *Francis, L.; Peterson, C.; *Reitze, A.
41	Ohio State University	318	115	88	Berman, D.; Caldeira, G.; Chamallas, M.; Chow, D.; Cole, S.; Colker, R.; Merritt, D.; Shane, P.; Simmons, R.; Tokaji, D.; Walker, C.
44	Wake Forest University	312	117	78	Cardi, W.; Chavis, K.; *Curtis, M.; Green, M.; Hall, M.; Knox, J.; Palmiter, A.; Parks, G.; *Shapiro, S.; Taylor, M.; Wright, R.
44	University of California, Hastings	311	114	83	Depoorter, B.; Dodson, S.; Faigman, D.; Feldman, R.; Lefstin, J.; *Marcus, R.; Mattei, U.; Owen, D.; Roht-Arriaza, N.; Schiller, R.; Williams, J.
44	Chicago-Kent College of Law/Illinois Institute of Technology	306	103	100	Andrews, L.; Baker, K.; Dinwoodie, G.; Katz, D.; Krent, H.; Lee, E.; Malin, M.; Marder, N.; *Perritt, H.; Rosen, M.
44	Brooklyn Law School	304	109	86	Baer, M.; Bernstein, A.; Brakman Reiser, D.; Capers, I. B.; Garrison, M.; Gold, A.; Janger, E.; *Karmel, R.; Ristroph, A.; *Schneider, E.; Solan, L.
48	University of Kansas	293	103	87	Bhala, R.; Drahozal, C.; Harper Ho, V.; Kronk Warner, E.; Levy, R.; Mulligan, L.; Outka, U.; Torrance, A.; Ware, S.; Yung, C.
49	University of Alabama	286	117	52	Andreen, W.; Andrews, C.; Brophy, A.; *Delgado, R.; Elliott, H.; Horwitz, P.; Krotoszynski, R.; Pardo, M.; *Stefancic, J.; Steinman, A.
49	Brigham Young University	278	101	76	Daniels, B.; *Durham, W.C.; Fee, J.; *Fleming, C.; Gedicks, F.; Hurt, C.; Jensen, E.; Moore, D.; Scharffs, B.; Smith, D.G.
49	Hofstra University	275	96	83	Baruch Bush, R.; Burke, A.; Colombo, R.; *Dolgin, J.; Freedman, E.; Ku, J.; Manta, I.; *Neumann, R.; Sample, J.; Stark, B.; *Yaroshefsky, E.