TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - For the fourth consecutive year, The University of Alabama School of Law has been ranked among the best in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report's new 2003 listing of the "Best Graduate Schools."

UA's School of Law, ranked 47th this year, was listed among the prestigious top 50 law schools for the first time three years ago.

"We are delighted to be recognized nationally for the high quality legal education that we provide. This recognition is particularly gratifying because these rankings include ratings by faculty at our peer institutions as well as by practicing attorneys and judges," said Ken Randall, dean of the UA School of Law. "We believe the rankings are a reflection of academic planning and achievement.

"This recognition is a tribute to the dedication, hard work and loyalty of our faculty, staff, students and alumni. While The University of Alabama School of Law's goal is to offer a first-class legal education to Alabama's future lawyers, we know that our future success in that endeavor is directly tied to state financial support for higher education. We will need enhanced state and campus support if we expect to remain a top-tier law school," Randall said.

The U.S. News rankings report that 99.4 percent of UA School of Law graduates were employed within a few months after graduation. UA law graduates hold positions with law firms, businesses, government and other organizations throughout Alabama, the Southeast and the nation. The bar passage rate for UA Law School graduates is well above the state average.