UNLV's Boyd School of Law posted a strong showing in the latest <a href="http://rankings.usnews.com/grad">U.S. News &amp; World Report's annual rankings</a> of the best law schools and specialty programs released on Friday.

In addition to moving up 12 spots from 100 to 88 in the overall rankings, the Boyd School of Law also advanced their already impressive position in each of the following specialty rankings:

o Boyd's Lawyering Process program, which includes legal writing, was named the nation's 3rd best program of its kind.

o UNLV's Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution was named among the top 10 programs, up three spots to number nine.

o The Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic jumped eight spots from number 20 to number 12.

"Our success in the national rankings is a reflection of what can happen when you combine strategy with passion, commitment, and a clear vision for the future." said John V. White, dean of the law school. "To achieve what we have in only ten short years speaks volumes about the hard work and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and alumni."

The Boyd Law School opened its doors to the charter class of 140 students in August 1998 and achieved provisional American Bar Association accreditation in 2000, the earliest possible time. The school graduated its first class in May 2001, received full accreditation by the American Bar Association in 2003, and was granted membership in the Association of American Law Schools in 2004.

The Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution was established in 2003 at the William S. Boyd School of Law in order to provide a venue for advanced study of the nature of conflict and the methods through which conflicts may be resolved. The work of the Center encompasses conflicts arising out of regional, national, and international concerns, and involving both the public and private sectors. Since the Center's inception, teams of students have placed first, second and third in national competitions in the areas of interviewing and counseling and negotiation - accomplishments almost unheard of for such a young program.

The mission of the Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic and the William S. Boyd School of Law Externship Program is to offer students integrated academic and practice-based educational experiences, to teach them to be reflective practitioners and multi-disciplinary professionals, to improve the quality of and access to legal systems, and to provide service to communities in need of legal assistance in Nevada. The Thomas and Mack Legal Clinic represents clients in cases involving juvenile justice, immigration, capital defense, criminal appellate, and child welfare.

The Lawyering Process program prepares students to enter the workforce already proficient in the key language skills of legal practice. Students write a scholarly paper during their upper division years, and attend required workshops on scholarly writing. An "Advanced Writers' Group" offers students the chance to develop editing skills. Additionally, the law school offers students the chance to participate in several service learning projects that involve writing.

U.S. News &amp; World Report annually ranks graduate and professional school programs in engineering, law, medicine, education and business using a variety of scoring categories, such as peer assessments, student/faculty ratios and funding for faculty research.