Following up on my previous post, U.S. News Sues San Francisco City Attorney Over Subpoenas Seeking Rankings Data:  Jill Switzer (Alternative Resolution Centers, Los Angeles), Rankings, Shmankings: Has USNWR Law School List Ever Been Relevant?:

Right now in the soggy “Golden State,” a dispute between U.S. News and World Report’s hospital rankings and the San Francisco City Attorney’s office has morphed into litigation. The LA Times has reported that “San Francisco City Atty. David Chiu issued two subpoenas to [U.S. News and World Report] earlier this month” with respect to hospital rankings and other health institutions. “The first demanded answers about the company’s process for ranking hospitals. The outlet also makes money from the healthcare facilities, including through its sale of ‘badges’ that high-scoring institutions can and often do place on their websites and other branding materials. The second subpoena demanded internal business records that might reveal more about U.S. News’ rankings process and whether the financial relationships with hospitals are a factor.”

Any possibility that USNWR’s rankings of law schools could be a possible future target? I would imagine that some law schools, especially lower tier, may be watching this litigation with interest. Some [62] law schools have ditched the rankings and more probably will. …

GPAs and LSAT scores are not necessarily indicative of success as a lawyer, and why should those matter? … It’s not what you bring to the table when you enter law school, it’s the education you carry when you practice. That’s the fallacy, I think, of any rankings