As soon as you begin law school, you’ll become part of a tight-knit community of your peers. From study groups to lunch meetings with professors, your peers provide advice, support, and laughter when needed.
But how many law graduates find jobs after passing the bar exam or receiving their JD degree? According to American Bar Association data, 85.6% of the Class of 2023 had full-time, long term positions that required passage of the bar exam or valued having one as assets.
1. Law Firms
NALP collected this data as part of its consumer information efforts for prospective law students and the general public, showing how graduates continue to create employment opportunities themselves in an unpredictable legal job market.
NALP has tracked multiple cycles of economic boom and bust since 2009, documenting how when large firm jobs decline more graduates work at smaller firms where opportunities to advance toward partnership exist more readily – this applies both for associates, contractor attorneys, as well as in-house counsel. Yet overall employment rates and salaries reached record highs among graduates of Class 2021.
2. Government
The optimism around the employment prospects for new lawyers could create an inflated sense of confidence. While the Class of 2023 entered one of the strongest employment markets ever seen, they may face challenges should the economy slow and large law firms experience reduced client demand.
The American Bar Association’s report on employment outcomes for Class of 2023 graduates found that 85.6% secured full-time, long-term bar passage required or JD advantage employment within 10 months after graduation–an impressive record rate over more than 10 years!
Columbia Law clinched first place for graduates landing jobs at large law firms with 251 or more attorneys, with 76% of its grads landing positions in large firms that employed 251+ attorneys compared to Cornell Law who held onto fourth-highest Big Law hiring rate both years. But according to an ABA report only half of graduates who found jobs at large law firms actually practice law – the rest work in other sectors such as corporations, government, finance or non-profit organizations.
3. Private Practice
While the percentage of graduates employed at law firms decreased during and following the recession, it has rebounded to near pre-recession levels. Furthermore, more graduates are working in roles which do not require bar passage but nevertheless benefit from having a law degree.
These job sectors tend to be fairly secure, although their profitability can fluctuate with economic cycles. We have also observed an uptick in graduates working as judicial clerks this year.
Students should think carefully about what kind of legal career they want to pursue before taking steps towards it. Typically, this means taking advantage of all that their law school offers – such as internships and professional opportunities offered through internship programs; academic discussion forums; networking events; cultural celebrations and celebrations; sports leagues or games! Most importantly though is remembering that entering this field can be rewarding; approach your studies with enthusiasm!
4. Non-Profit Organizations
David Burton, an editor with Reuters, likened the placement rate for law school graduates to that of an athletic draft draft, noting that while first rounders often prove successful in their chosen fields, second and third rounders typically go on to have longer careers.
As members of the Class of 2022 found employment 10 months post graduation at record rates, according to data published by the American Bar Association’s Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar as part of their consumer information efforts, nearly 92% secured full time, long term, bar passage required or JD advantage jobs.
Lawyers accounted for the largest portion of jobs — around 76%. That percentage has declined slightly from what it peaked at in 2007, while government and non-law firm employment (which includes public interest positions) increased significantly.