The Times Higher Education (THE) world university rankings 2020 has placed the University of Toronto (U of T)’s Faculty of Law as one of the top 10 law schools in the world. U of T has ranked tenth on the list, the highest among law schools outside of Great Britain and the United States.
The THE rankings is an annual publication of university rankings by Times Higher Education magazine which judges research-intensive universities using 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators. The criteria consists of teaching (the learning environment), research (volume, income and reputation), international outlook (staff, students and research), citations (research influence), and industry income (knowledge transfer).
The ranking is also audited through professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers.
U of T explained that the Faculty of Law is an excellent choice for students applying to study law because it has a world-renowned department with more than fifty full-time faculty as well as seven visiting scholars from across the globe.
Dean of the U of T’s Faculty of Law Edward Iacobucci told The Medium that the recognition is appreciated but that they will continue to strive for excellence to attract the best and brightest.
“It’s a rare honour for a Canadian institution to be ranked in the top 10, the top law school in Canada, and the only Ontario law school in the top 50,” said Iacobucci.
“While our ambition remains sharply focused on excellence, not rankings, it is gratifying to receive such recognition,” continued Iacobucci. “U of T Law has been and remains an accessible institution that attracts the best and the brightest students.”
U of T was one of the first Canadian Law Schools to offer a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, rather than a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B), providing their graduates with a more competitive degree designation. Presently, it remains one of the few Canadian law schools that offer a J.D. degree.
“I hope to study in their faculty of law in my near future as I truly believe they provide excellent resources to make my experience worthwhile, their ranking is well deserved,” said Nicole Krzecko, a recent graduate from U of T with a Bachelor of Science Degree with Honours.
“U of T has deserved this prestige for not only its curriculum, but also in the way that it provides a sense of community for its students, and the doors it opens for them as well,” continued Krzecko.
According to their website, students graduating from U of T’s Faculty of Law “are hired by the top employers in Canada, New York, and London.” Approximately 95 per cent of J.D. students secure jobs each year.
“As an aspiring future law school student […] I hope to one day be part of their law program, but I can only imagine how difficult it must be to get in,” said Jestina Hajjar, a first-year student in philosophy and political science at the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM).
“Attending U of T Law has always been an aspiration of mine and the school becoming a part of the top ten law schools comes as no surprise,” said Phoenix Banjo, another first-year student in psychology and political science.
The University of Toronto has attracted thousands of applicants each year. With its numerous recognitions and top faculty, the university is sure to climb higher in the top law schools ranking list.
