Employment Data for Recent Graduates

The information in the tables below is as of 10 months after graduation. This data was reported to the ABA and/or NALP according to their reporting guidelines.

Related: Career Development Facts and Statistics | Map: Where Our Graduates Go | Clerkships by Term and Location | Prominent Alumni | Bar Passage Data for Recent Graduates

ABA Employment Summary Reports

Class of 2023 | Class of 2022 | Class of 2021 

Employment Status

 202320222021
Employed28299.3%32298.5%31298.1%
Pursuing Graduate Degree00%20.6%10.3%
Start Date Deferred10.4%00%10.3%
Not Seeking Employment00%00%00%
Seeking Employment00%10.3%41.3%
Unknown10.4%20.6%00%
TOTAL GRADUATES284 327 318 
Number of graduates receiving funding as Powell, Kennedy or Ruff fellows (included in figures above)62.1%72.1%134.1%

Employment by Industry/Sector

 202320222021
Law Firms20974.1%23974.2%21468.6%
Judicial Clerkships4415.6%5115.8%6320.2%
Government93.2%134.0%196.1%
Public Interest207.1%154.7%165.1%
Business/Industry00%41.2%00%
Academia00%00%00%
Unknown00%00%00%
TOTAL EMPLOYED GRADUATES282 322 312 

Employment Type

 202320222021
Bar Admission Required/Anticipated28199.6%31999.1%31199.7%
J.D. Preferred10.4%30.9%10.3%
Professional Other00%00%00%
Nonprofessional Other00%00%00%
Undeterminable00%00%00%
TOTAL EMPLOYED GRADUATES282 322 312 
Full-time, Long-term282100%322100%30999.0%
Full-time, Short-term00%00%20.6%
Part-time, Long-term00%00%10.3%
Part-time, Short-term00%00%00%
TOTAL EMPLOYED GRADUATES282 322 312 

Law Firm Employment

FIRM SIZE202320222021
501+ Attorneys18588.5%18778.2%17883.2%
251-50083.8%229.2%115.1%
101-25073.3%83.3%62.8%
51-10031.4%93.8%73.3%
26-5031.4%52.1%10.5%
11-2521.0%62.5%52.3%
2-1010.5%20.8%62.8%
100%00%00%
Unknown00%00%00%
TOTAL LAW FIRM GRADUATES209 239 214 

Judicial Clerkship Employment

CLERKSHIP TYPE202320222021
Federal Courts3988.6%4282.4%5079.4%
State, Local and Territorial Courts511.4%917.6%1320.6%
Tribal and International Courts00%00%00%
TOTAL JUDICIAL CLERKSHIP GRADUATES44 51 63 

See also: Clerkships by Term and Location

Salaries

PRIVATE SECTOR (Law Firms and Business/Industry)202320222021
75th Percentile$225,000$215,000$215,000
Median$225,000$215,000$215,000
25th Percentile$225,000$215,000$205,000
Total Graduates in This Category209243214
Salaries Reported209240211
Response Rate100%98.8%98.6%
PUBLIC SECTOR (Judicial Clerkships, Government, Public Interest and Academia)202320222021
75th Percentile$76,788$78,592$72,344
Median$71,960$69,878$66,773
25th Percentile$69,107$69,107$61,482
Total Graduates in This Category737998
Salaries Reported727996
Response Rate98.6%100%98.0%
ALL SECTORS202320222021
75th Percentile$225,000$215,000$215,000
Median$225,000$215,000$210,000
25th Percentile$86,450$109,818$72,750
Total Graduates in This Category282322312
Salaries Reported281319307
Response Rate99.6%99.1%98.4%
Graduates receiving funding as Powell, Kennedy or Ruff fellows are included in Public Sector.

Employment Locations

Map of Employment Locations
Map of Clerkship Locations

 202320222021
New York7325.9%8827.3%6922.1%
District of Columbia6623.4%6419.9%7724.7%
California 279.6%237.1%289.0%
Virginia279.6%257.8%289.0%
Texas248.5%4514.0%319.9%
All Other States6422.7%7322.7%7825.0%
International10.4%41.2%10.3%
Unknown00%00%00%
TOTAL EMPLOYED GRADUATES282 322 312 

Bar Passage Data for Recent Graduates