In previous posts (#1, #2, #3, #4) we’ve casually referred to “uncertified lists.” We figure it is time to explain more carefully what we mean by this.

When we say “certified list” we refer to a list that meets the LST Standard. When we say “uncertified list” we refer to any list that falls short of the LST Standard.

We chose certified and uncertified to describe lists because the certified category provides express permission to use the LST certification mark (first mentioned in our paper). Schools that publish certified lists can bear a certification mark if the list meets our criteria. Additionally, schools can claim to be an “LST Certified Law School” when they publish certified lists for the previous 3 years. We will explain our certification marks in an upcoming post.

All of the lists we have published so far have fallen short of the LST Standard. While employment lists like these that account for all or nearly all graduates for some of the components are admirable, missing certain features limits the usefulness of the data. We believe we’ve come to an optimal solution that balances the legitimate interests of all important stakeholders, thus will not offer certification to the lists we’ve already published. However, these schools will have the opportunity to submit certified lists now or in the future when we make the official request.