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2008 U.S. NEWS RANKING OF LAW SCHOOLS BY CATEGORIES |
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FORMAT OF THE RANKING. Our table of the ranking of the 184 ABA-approved law schools gives, for each of these law schools, the USN RANK, the USN Score (this score determines the rank), and the ranking of these law schools in five important categories (e.g. PEER RANK, JUDGE/LAWYER RANK). GPA rank, LSAT rank, and Bar Passage rank). For each of these criteria, a law school's ranking can range from 1 (best) to 184 (worst) with third-tier quality being 105 to 139 inclusive and fourth-tier quality being 140 to 184. |
AVERAGE GPA AND LSAT. The average GPA and LSAT scores for the entering class of a law school do not seem to be available. For lack of a better name, we, like just about everyone else, will use, albeit incorrectly, Average GPA and Average LSAT to denote the average of the law schools's twenty-fifth percentile and the law school's seventy-fifth percentile in GPA and LSAT respectively. Note that what we call the "average" is, almost always, neither the average nor the median. |
FOR THE TOP 104 LAW SCHOOLS, WE GIVE THE REASON FOR COLORING SOME OF THE COLUMNS AND CELLS
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For each of the last five columns, the two preceding colors indicate agreement, if any, with the USN RANK (first column). Thus, for example, from the color coding of the PEER RANK, we see that the USN RANK and PEER RANK agree on the top three law schools (albeit not their order) and the top eighteen law schools (albeit not their order). |
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For each of the last five columns, the color red indicates a very poor performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the Stanford University has a USN rank of 2.5 but by comparison an very unimpressive average LSAT rank of 6). |
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For each of the last five columns, the pink color indictes a poor performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the University of Southern California has a USN rank of 16.5 but by comparison an unimpressive judge/lawyer rank of 28.5). |
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For each of the last five columns, the light turquoise color indictes a good performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. the University of San Diego has an USN rank of 87.5 but by comparison a more impressive Peer average rank of 51). |
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For each of the last five columns, the aqua color indictes a very good performance in this category with respect to the USN RANK (e.g. Boston University has an USN rank of 20.5 but by comparison a much more impressive GPA rank of 8). | AN ATTEMPT TO RANK THE LAW SCHOOLS IN THE THIRD TIER AND THE LAW SCHOOLS IN THE FOURTH TIER For what it's worth, using the Peer Rank (30%), Judge/Lawyer Rank (20%), GPA (20%), and LSAT (30%), we suggest an ordering of the third-tier law schools and we suggest an ordering of the fourth tier law schools. Within each tier, our ranking is implied by the order in which the law schools appear and law schools with the same color are closely ranked. One should not take our ranking oF the third tier law schools and the ranking of the fourth tier law schools too seriously because more information would be needed to do a decent ranking. |
The determination of Bar Passage Rate is explained after this table. |
USN |
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|
JUDGE/ |
Rank of |
Rank of |
Bar |
RANK |
LAW SCHOOL |
PEER |
LAWYER |
Average |
Average |
Passage |
|
|
RANK |
RANK |
GPA |
LSAT |
Rank |
1 |
Yale U (CT) |
1.0 |
2.0 |
1.0 |
1.0 |
8.0 |
2.5 |
Harvard U (MA) |
2.0 |
2.0 |
3.0 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
2.5 |
Stanford U (CA) |
3.0 |
2.0 |
2.0 |
6.0 |
21.0 |
4 |
New York U |
5.0 |
7.0 |
6.0 |
5.0 |
11.0 |
5 |
Columbia U (NY) |
5.0 |
4.5 |
11.5 |
3.0 |
22.0 |
6.5 |
U Chicago |
5.0 |
4.5 |
17.0 |
4.0 |
17.0 |
6.5 |
U Pennsylvania |
10.0 |
9.5 |
11.5 |
8.5 |
5.0 |
8.5 |
U Michigan |
7.0 |
7.0 |
11.5 |
11.0 |
3.0 |
8.5 |
UC Berkeley |
8.5 |
9.5 |
4.0 |
14.5 |
20.0 |
10.5 |
U Virginia |
8.5 |
7.0 |
11.5 |
8.5 |
2.0 |
10.5 |
Duke U (NC) |
12.0 |
12.0 |
5.0 |
12.5 |
9.0 |
12 |
Northwestern U (IL) |
15.0 |
12.0 |
25.5 |
8.5 |
19.0 |
13 |
Cornell U (NY) |
12.0 |
12.0 |
14.0 |
12.5 |
7.0 |
14 |
Georgetown U (DC) |
12.0 |
15.0 |
15.5 |
8.5 |
16.0 |
15 |
UCLA |
15.0 |
17.5 |
20.5 |
17.0 |
18.0 |
16.5 |
Vanderbilt U (TN) |
17.5 |
15.0 |
7.0 |
17.0 |
52.0 |
16.5 |
U Southern California |
17.5 |
28.5 |
23.5 |
14.5 |
36.0 |
18 |
U Texas-Austin |
15.0 |
15.0 |
38.0 |
20.0 |
41.0 |
19 |
Washington U (MO) |
20.5 |
22.5 |
76.0 |
23.5 |
103.0 |
20.5 |
Boston U |
26.0 |
34.0 |
8.0 |
23.5 |
23.0 |
20.5 |
U Minnesota-TC |
20.5 |
22.5 |
62.5 |
20.0 |
1.0 |
22.5 |
George Washington U |
26.0 |
22.5 |
18.0 |
23.5 |
33.0 |
22.5 |
Emory U (GA) |
26.0 |
19.0 |
62.5 |
27.0 |
14.0 |
24 |
U Iowa |
26.0 |
28.5 |
22.0 |
56.5 |
49.5 |
26 |
Fordham U (NY) |
34.5 |
34.0 |
35.5 |
20.0 |
37.5 |
26 |
Washington & Lee U |
26.0 |
22.5 |
55.0 |
23.5 |
13.0 |
26 |
U Illinois (UIUC) |
26.0 |
28.5 |
86.0 |
30.0 |
66.0 |
29 |
Boston College |
31.0 |
28.5 |
29.0 |
27.0 |
47.0 |
29 |
U Washington |
38.0 |
38.0 |
9.0 |
35.5 |
62.0 |
29 |
U Notre Dame (IN) |
31.0 |
22.5 |
65.0 |
17.0 |
34.0 |
32 |
William and Mary (VA) |
34.5 |
28.5 |
29.0 |
27.0 |
32.0 |
32 |
Ohio State U |
31.0 |
34.0 |
35.5 |
56.5 |
40.0 |
32 |
U Wisconsin-Madison |
20.5 |
28.5 |
67.5 |
66.5 |
65.0 |
34.5 |
UC Davis |
26.0 |
34.0 |
46.0 |
39.0 |
81.0 |
34.5 |
George Mason U (VA) |
56.5 |
40.5 |
81.5 |
33.0 |
107.0 |
39.5 |
U North Carolina |
20.5 |
17.5 |
32.5 |
49.0 |
48.0 |
39.5 |
UC (Hastings) |
34.5 |
22.5 |
35.5 |
43.0 |
27.0 |
39.5 |
U Maryland |
45.5 |
57.5 |
29.0 |
35.5 |
91.0 |
39.5 |
U Colorado-Boulder |
41.5 |
51.0 |
40.5 |
39.0 |
31.0 |
39.5 |
U Alabama |
51.0 |
45.5 |
40.5 |
39.0 |
4.0 |
39.5 |
Wake Forest U (NC) |
41.5 |
34.0 |
76.0 |
33.0 |
12.0 |
39.5 |
U Georgia |
41.5 |
51.0 |
20.5 |
61.0 |
49.5 |
39.5 |
Indiana U-Bloomington |
34.5 |
38.0 |
52.5 |
56.5 |
74.0 |
44.5 |
Brigham Young U (UT) |
51.0 |
45.5 |
25.5 |
30.0 |
69.0 |
44.5 |
U Arizona (Rogers) |
38.0 |
57.5 |
50.5 |
49.0 |
60.0 |
46 |
Southern Methodist U |
63.0 |
45.5 |
32.5 |
49.0 |
58.0 |
48.5 |
Tulane U (LA) |
41.5 |
40.5 |
49.0 |
49.0 |
63.0 |
48.5 |
U Florida |
38.0 |
38.0 |
19.0 |
86.0 |
59.0 |
48.5 |
U Connecticut |
45.5 |
69.5 |
71.5 |
49.0 |
42.0 |
48.5 |
American U (DC) |
45.5 |
45.5 |
104.5 |
56.5 |
86.5 |
51 |
Arizona State U |
45.5 |
69.5 |
45.0 |
79.0 |
148.0 |
52 |
Yeshiva U (Cardozo) |
56.5 |
81.0 |
67.5 |
30.0 |
53.0 |
54.5 |
Baylor U (TX) |
81.0 |
45.5 |
15.5 |
61.0 |
10.0 |
54.5 |
Florida State U |
51.0 |
69.5 |
59.0 |
66.5 |
85.0 |
54.5 |
U Tennessee-Knoxville |
63.0 |
57.5 |
35.5 |
86.0 |
46.0 |
54.5 |
Case Western Reserve |
56.5 |
45.5 |
125.0 |
73.5 |
83.0 |
58 |
U Utah |
56.5 |
81.0 |
29.0 |
66.5 |
128.5 |
58 |
U Cincinnati |
71.5 |
69.5 |
43.5 |
73.5 |
61.0 |
58 |
U Pittsburgh |
51.0 |
45.5 |
109.5 |
66.5 |
88.0 |
62.5 |
Villanova U (PA) |
63.0 |
45.5 |
78.5 |
43.0 |
90.0 |
62.5 |
IIT (Chicago-Kent) |
63.0 |
93.5 |
47.0 |
49.0 |
113.0 |
62.5 |
Temple U (PA) |
63.0 |
51.0 |
91.0 |
49.0 |
72.0 |
62.5 |
U Kentucky |
71.5 |
69.5 |
23.5 |
79.0 |
37.5 |
62.5 |
Brooklyn Law School |
63.0 |
105.5 |
88.0 |
33.0 |
57.0 |
62.5 |
U Houston |
63.0 |
93.5 |
55.0 |
66.5 |
92.0 |
67.5 |
U Kansas |
63.0 |
57.5 |
59.0 |
86.0 |
116.0 |
67.5 |
U Missouri-Columbia |
63.0 |
57.5 |
66.0 |
86.0 |
118.0 |
67.5 |
Pepperdine U (CA) |
92.5 |
81.0 |
48.0 |
66.5 |
73.0 |
67.5 |
Loyola (Los Angeles) |
71.5 |
81.0 |
113.5 |
49.0 |
75.0 |
73 |
Loyola U Chicago |
81.0 |
69.5 |
84.5 |
39.0 |
84.0 |
73 |
U Miami (FL) |
51.0 |
69.5 |
73.5 |
86.0 |
89.0 |
73 |
Seton Hall U (NJ) |
71.5 |
69.5 |
91.0 |
56.5 |
79.0 |
73 |
Rutgers-Camden (NJ) |
71.5 |
57.5 |
141.5 |
49.0 |
95.0 |
73 |
U Oklahoma |
81.0 |
69.5 |
40.5 |
101.0 |
15.0 |
73 |
St. John's U (NY) |
92.5 |
93.5 |
59.0 |
66.5 |
29.0 |
73 |
U New Mexico |
71.5 |
105.5 |
104.5 |
123.5 |
35.0 |
79 |
U Nebraska-Lincoln |
81.0 |
69.5 |
43.5 |
101.0 |
80.0 |
79 |
Rutgers-Newark (NJ) |
71.5 |
57.5 |
126.0 |
86.0 |
121.0 |
79 |
U Richmond (VA) |
92.5 |
81.0 |
130.0 |
56.5 |
51.0 |
79 |
U at Buffalo-SUNY |
81.0 |
93.5 |
78.5 |
113.5 |
108.0 |
79 |
U Denver (Sturm) |
81.0 |
93.5 |
109.5 |
94.5 |
150.0 |
83 |
U Oregon |
51.0 |
57.5 |
118.5 |
73.5 |
96.0 |
83 |
Lewis and Clark (OR) |
81.0 |
105.5 |
113.5 |
39.0 |
102.0 |
83 |
Georgia State U |
92.5 |
81.0 |
139.0 |
66.5 |
39.0 |
87.5 |
U San Diego |
51.0 |
115.5 |
135.5 |
43.0 |
44.0 |
87.5 |
St. Louis U |
92.5 |
57.5 |
50.5 |
101.0 |
143.0 |
87.5 |
Indiana U-Indianapolis |
71.5 |
93.5 |
59.0 |
106.0 |
156.0 |
87.5 |
Northeastern U (MA) |
92.5 |
115.5 |
93.5 |
73.5 |
24.0 |
87.5 |
Seattle U |
103.5 |
93.5 |
88.0 |
94.5 |
109.0 |
87.5 |
U Toledo (OH) |
125.0 |
132.5 |
88.0 |
94.5 |
134.0 |
93.5 |
Santa Clara U (CA) |
81.0 |
93.5 |
124.0 |
61.0 |
114.0 |
93.5 |
U South Carolina |
103.5 |
81.0 |
81.5 |
79.0 |
70.0 |
93.5 |
Louisiana State U |
92.5 |
69.5 |
69.5 |
106.0 |
43.0 |
93.5 |
U Hawaii |
81.0 |
124.5 |
84.5 |
86.0 |
56.0 |
93.5 |
DePaul U (IL) |
92.5 |
93.5 |
139.0 |
73.5 |
130.0 |
93.5 |
Pennsylvania State U |
103.5 |
57.5 |
161.0 |
86.0 |
110.0 |
98 |
Marquette U (WI) |
92.5 |
81.0 |
71.5 |
101.0 |
101.0 |
98 |
Catholic U (DC) |
81.0 |
69.5 |
128.0 |
86.0 |
132.5 |
98 |
U Louisville (KY) |
103.5 |
115.5 |
73.5 |
94.5 |
54.0 |
102 |
U Nevada-Las Vegas |
103.5 |
132.5 |
52.5 |
79.0 |
111.0 |
102 |
U San Francisco |
113.5 |
93.5 |
132.0 |
73.5 |
76.0 |
102 |
Stetson U (FL) |
113.5 |
115.5 |
96.0 |
132.5 |
97.0 |
102 |
U Pacific |
125.0 |
147.0 |
109.5 |
94.5 |
117.0 |
102 |
Mercer U (GA) |
125.0 |
115.5 |
122.0 |
113.5 |
67.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Mississippi |
103.5 |
69.5 |
55.0 |
123.5 |
55.0 |
Tier 3 |
Michigan State U |
103.5 |
69.5 |
115.5 |
94.5 |
105.0 |
Tier 3 |
Hofstra U (NY) |
92.5 |
93.5 |
81.5 |
113.5 |
142.0 |
Tier 3 |
Syracuse U (NY) |
81.0 |
81.0 |
118.5 |
123.5 |
146.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Arkansas-Fayetteville |
92.5 |
93.5 |
98.0 |
123.5 |
125.0 |
Tier 3 |
Texas Tech U |
125.0 |
115.5 |
29.0 |
138.0 |
45.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Maine |
103.5 |
115.5 |
100.5 |
113.5 |
98.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Missouri-KC |
113.5 |
124.5 |
59.0 |
138.0 |
155.0 |
Tier 3 |
Creighton U (NE) |
125.0 |
105.5 |
93.5 |
123.5 |
178.0 |
Tier 3 |
Drake U (IA) |
125.0 |
115.5 |
100.5 |
113.5 |
162.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Memphis |
148.5 |
153.0 |
40.5 |
113.5 |
30.0 |
Tier 3 |
Gonzaga U (WA) |
113.5 |
93.5 |
143.0 |
123.5 |
141.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Idaho |
125.0 |
115.5 |
96.0 |
138.0 |
122.0 |
Tier 3 |
Quinnipiac U (CT) |
138.0 |
157.0 |
128.0 |
79.0 |
123.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Akron (OH) |
138.0 |
124.5 |
122.0 |
106.0 |
127.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Montana |
125.0 |
124.5 |
69.5 |
154.5 |
112.0 |
Tier 3 |
West Virginia U |
113.5 |
115.5 |
81.5 |
165.5 |
106.0 |
Tier 3 |
Washburn U (KS) |
125.0 |
132.5 |
104.5 |
132.5 |
144.5 |
Tier 3 |
Pace U (NY) |
125.0 |
141.0 |
109.5 |
123.5 |
132.5 |
Tier 3 |
New York Law School |
113.5 |
115.5 |
150.0 |
132.5 |
126.0 |
Tier 3 |
William Mitchell (MN) |
138.0 |
147.0 |
96.0 |
123.5 |
158.0 |
Tier 3 |
Loyola U New Orleans |
113.5 |
93.5 |
132.0 |
160.0 |
82.0 |
Tier 3 |
Vermont Law School |
103.5 |
93.5 |
155.5 |
154.5 |
160.0 |
Tier 3 |
Cleveland State U |
138.0 |
115.5 |
132.0 |
123.5 |
166.0 |
Tier 3 |
Samford U (AL) |
138.0 |
132.5 |
148.0 |
106.0 |
28.0 |
Tier 3 |
Suffolk U (MA) |
138.0 |
132.5 |
150.0 |
106.0 |
144.5 |
Tier 3 |
U Wyoming |
125.0 |
105.5 |
109.5 |
165.5 |
154.0 |
Tier 3 |
U Arkansas-Little Rock |
113.5 |
132.5 |
144.5 |
145.5 |
131.0 |
Tier 3 |
Albany LS-Union U (NY) |
113.5 |
141.0 |
170.0 |
123.5 |
99.0 |
Tier 3 |
U St. Thomas (MN) |
148.5 |
147.0 |
135.5 |
109.0 |
164.0 |
Tier 3 |
Howard U (DC) |
103.5 |
105.5 |
158.5 |
173.0 |
149.0 |
Tier 3 |
Southern Illinois U |
138.0 |
124.5 |
122.0 |
160.0 |
71.0 |
Tier 3 |
Southwestern LS (CA) |
148.5 |
167.0 |
118.5 |
123.5 |
100.0 |
Tier 3 |
Franklin Pierce (NH) |
125.0 |
132.5 |
141.5 |
165.5 |
135.0 |
Tier 3 |
Florida International U |
170.0 |
180.5 |
128.0 |
132.5 |
93.0 |
Tier 4 |
Wayne State U (MI) |
92.5 |
124.5 |
64.0 |
101.0 |
86.5 |
Tier 4 |
Willamette U (OR) |
113.5 |
132.5 |
152.5 |
94.5 |
137.0 |
Tier 4 |
Hamline U (MN) |
148.5 |
153.0 |
76.0 |
113.5 |
177.0 |
Tier 4 |
Duquesne U (PA) |
138.0 |
105.5 |
100.5 |
145.5 |
168.0 |
Tier 4 |
U South Dakota |
138.0 |
93.5 |
100.5 |
154.5 |
115.0 |
Tier 4 |
Valparaiso U (IN) |
138.0 |
105.5 |
118.5 |
165.5 |
77.0 |
Tier 4 |
Northern Kentucky U |
164.0 |
167.0 |
104.5 |
113.5 |
176.0 |
Tier 4 |
U North Dakota |
148.5 |
141.0 |
91.0 |
165.5 |
64.0 |
Tier 4 |
Northern Illinois U |
157.0 |
153.0 |
115.5 |
145.5 |
136.0 |
Tier 4 |
U Baltimore |
138.0 |
141.0 |
158.5 |
145.5 |
159.0 |
Tier 4 |
John Marshall LS (IL) |
148.5 |
132.5 |
174.5 |
132.5 |
173.0 |
Tier 4 |
Chapman U (CA) |
164.0 |
180.5 |
164.0 |
94.5 |
140.0 |
Tier 4 |
U Tulsa (OK) |
125.0 |
141.0 |
155.5 |
165.5 |
119.0 |
Tier 4 |
Texas Wesleyan U |
157.0 |
180.5 |
135.5 |
123.5 |
104.0 |
Tier 4 |
Campbell U (NC) |
170.0 |
141.0 |
144.5 |
132.5 |
25.0 |
Tier 4 |
U Dayton (OH) |
138.0 |
132.5 |
168.0 |
160.0 |
120.0 |
Tier 4 |
CUNY-Queens College |
138.0 |
174.0 |
146.0 |
154.5 |
169.0 |
Tier 4 |
Ohio Northern U |
164.0 |
172.0 |
109.5 |
154.5 |
94.0 |
Tier 4 |
Ave Maria SL (MI) |
177.0 |
153.0 |
135.5 |
138.0 |
26.0 |
Tier 4 |
California Western SL |
157.0 |
167.0 |
147.0 |
145.5 |
124.0 |
Tier 4 |
St. Mary's U (TX) |
157.0 |
141.0 |
177.0 |
145.5 |
157.0 |
Tier 4 |
Capital U (OH) |
157.0 |
153.0 |
152.5 |
154.5 |
128.5 |
Tier 4 |
Widener U (DE) |
148.5 |
153.0 |
171.0 |
154.5 |
171.0 |
Tier 4 |
South Texas CL |
157.0 |
160.5 |
168.0 |
145.5 |
138.0 |
Tier 4 |
Roger Williams U (RI) |
157.0 |
167.0 |
163.0 |
145.5 |
161.0 |
Tier 4 |
Regent U (VA) |
177.0 |
172.0 |
139.0 |
145.5 |
151.0 |
Tier 4 |
New England SL (MA) |
157.0 |
160.5 |
154.0 |
165.5 |
174.0 |
Tier 4 |
Golden Gate U (CA) |
170.0 |
176.5 |
157.0 |
145.5 |
170.0 |
Tier 4 |
Western New England |
164.0 |
176.5 |
180.0 |
138.0 |
181.0 |
Tier 4 |
Nova Southeastern U (FL) |
148.5 |
167.0 |
165.0 |
173.0 |
152.0 |
Tier 4 |
Touro College (NY) |
157.0 |
160.5 |
172.0 |
165.5 |
153.0 |
Tier 4 |
Whittier Law School (CA) |
177.0 |
147.0 |
173.0 |
154.5 |
175.0 |
Tier 4 |
Mississippi College |
170.0 |
147.0 |
150.0 |
178.0 |
163.0 |
Tier 4 |
Oklahoma City U |
170.0 |
160.5 |
161.0 |
175.0 |
180.0 |
Tier 4 |
U Detroit Mercy |
170.0 |
160.5 |
161.0 |
176.0 |
147.0 |
Tier 4 |
North Carolina Central U |
164.0 |
160.5 |
166.0 |
182.0 |
68.0 |
Tier 4 |
St. Thomas U (FL) |
177.0 |
153.0 |
179.0 |
178.0 |
179.0 |
Tier 4 |
Thomas Jefferson SL (CA) |
177.0 |
167.0 |
181.0 |
170.5 |
172.0 |
Tier 4 |
Florida Coastal SL |
182.0 |
176.5 |
168.0 |
170.5 |
78.0 |
Tier 4 |
Thomas M. Cooley LS |
177.0 |
167.0 |
176.0 |
180.5 |
139.0 |
Tier 4 |
Texas Southern U |
170.0 |
172.0 |
184.0 |
183.0 |
182.0 |
Tier 4 |
U District of Columbia |
182.0 |
183.5 |
178.0 |
173.0 |
183.0 |
Tier 4 |
Southern U (LA) |
177.0 |
176.5 |
182.0 |
184.0 |
184.0 |
Tier 4 |
Appalachian SL (VA) |
182.0 |
180.5 |
183.0 |
178.0 |
167.0 |
Tier 4 |
Barry U (FL) |
184.0 |
183.5 |
174.5 |
180.5 |
165.0 | |
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Revised: September 19, 2010
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