{ prima facie } the Temple Law newspaper

The popular US News rankings once again listed Temple University Beasley School of Law in the top third of the nation's law schools in 2009 and among the top ten law schools in three different specialty categories -- a feat no other school in the region accomplished.

Only 12 law schools in the nation were ranked among the top ten in more than two specialties, as was Temple Law, with top ten placement in Trial Advocacy, Legal Writing and Part-Time Programs.

Coming in at #65 in the overall rankings, Temple Law School is tied with nearby Penn State Law (formerly Dickinson Law), ranked just one point below neighboring Villanova Law, and ranked slightly above neighboring Rutgers-Camden Law School and University of Pittsburgh Law School. The only law school in the region ranking above this closely matched group was the prestigious University of Pennsylvania Law School, at #8.

In recent years, Temple, Villanova, Rutgers and Penn State (Dickinson) have been consistently ranked closely together, making the Philadelphia law school race very competitive. Temple has usually been ranked slightly higher than the others, partly because Temple Law alumni dominate the Philadelphia legal market.

Once again, Temple Law ranked highly in the categories of Trial Advocacy and Legal Writing -- two areas where the school has frequently landed among the top few in the nation over the past decade -- and among the top ten in three specialties and among the top 20 in four.

The school was ranked #2 in the US News "Trial Advocacy" category (http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/...).

Temple Law was ranked #7 in the US News "Legal Writing" category (http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/...).

Temple Law's part-time program ranked #7 in the nation (http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/...).

Temple Law was ranked #15 in the "International Law" specialty.

No other law school in the region ranked among the top ten in any of the ten US News "Law Specialties" categories, except Seton Hall, which was ranked #6 in the "Healthcare Law" category.