Students enrolling in law school typically expect to become lawyers, given the high costs associated with tuition and living expenses.
Law students must maintain professional behavior both inside and outside of class, maintain an acceptable minimum per-semester unit count and grade point average, as well as participate in legal clinics or internships.
1. The number of law school graduates is increasing.
U.S. students looking to become lawyers must complete four years of undergraduate studies and then spend two to seven years obtaining their law degrees before sitting the bar exam in their state and becoming licensed. Unfortunately, this process can be both lengthy and expensive, and many aspiring attorneys cannot afford law school – however there are other methods available to them to gain legal experience outside traditional education settings.
Recent employment figures demonstrate the robust state of the legal job market and this bodes well for law school graduates. Recent employment statistics reveal that the class of 2023 experienced one of the highest job placement rates of any class within a decade; 85.7 percent found full time, long term jobs that either required their license to practice law or recognized JDs as assets.
Job placement figures depend on a few key variables. First, graduating classes must correspond with entry-level jobs requiring a law license – something which was problematic during the 1980s and 1990s, when law schools produced far too many graduates than there were entry-level legal jobs available. Second, salaries for new lawyers tend to be relatively higher compared with other fields, making it easier for graduates to pay off student loans with enough left over for daily expenses and live comfortably.
Though current law graduates can expect an excellent job market, prospective law students should exercise caution when planning their careers. Before enrolling in law school, prospective law students must fully explore all possible paths; those interested in working for large firms should attend a law school renowned in that field; but students should also remember there are multiple other uses for a legal degree such as working for governments, non-profit organizations and schools.
2. The number of law school graduates is decreasing.
Law school applications may have fallen, but fears of a significant decrease have proven unwarranted. The new incoming class boasts record numbers from underrepresented racial groups; yet having earned a law degree still does not guarantee employment upon graduating – according to the American Bar Association (ABA), one third or more graduates from 30 law schools failed to secure full time, bar passage required jobs nine months post graduation.
The American Bar Association report also revealed that, on average, law students graduated with over $118,670 of debt at graduation. Not only is this amount hindering employment opportunities for graduates, but this huge burden also forces many young lawyers to delay major life decisions such as marriage, children or home ownership – some even postpone retirement!
These troubling trends have several causes. First and foremost, as population trends shift away from those aged 25-29 entering law school, fewer individuals are enrolling with lower LSAT scores – this trend being especially evident among Black and Hispanic test-takers, who historically have had among the lowest LSAT scores among all test takers.
Law school graduates entering large law firm jobs is also on a decline. While graduates from top 20 law schools continue to hold most of these roles, percentages from other schools have steadily dropped since 2021.
Though these numbers may seem disheartening, it’s important to keep in mind that most graduates aren’t having difficulty finding work; more than half of the graduates surveyed reported they were extremely or somewhat satisfied with their jobs.
Noteworthy is also that, on average, law students earned around $160,000 during their three years of law school – significantly more than the median income for US households – yet many graduates do not work at high-paying corporate law firms or big city firms where salaries tend to be much higher.
3. The number of law school graduates is stable.
Employment rates remained steady at 52% for graduates entering full-time jobs that require a law license in 2022, down from 72% peaking in 2013. It marks the lowest employment rate since 2008.
Graduates of more selective law schools were more likely to secure full-time, long-term jobs that required passing the bar exam than graduates of less selective schools, while their share of large firms continued to remain unchanged.
However, this data only tells part of the story; also crucial is understanding how much law graduates make. Although graduates from prestigious law schools typically make more in large firms compared to smaller firms or government positions; generally speaking however, salaries are bimodal among law school graduates with no one earning more than $160,000 annually.
Law school graduates continue to pay off their student loans after graduating, according to research conducted by the Center for Postsecondary Education Research (CEW). About half of 2022 graduates surveyed by CEW reported loan balances that had either increased or remained the same three years post graduation – this debt burden is especially prevalent among graduates of color and women, who tend to carry greater amounts than white graduates.
Many graduates from less selective law schools are finding it increasingly difficult to secure employment within the legal profession, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which has caused law firms to postpone and even lay off employees. Furthermore, applications have increased while employment rates have dropped for lower-ranked law schools.
Some observers contend that law schools have an incentive to keep enrollment levels high even when employment opportunities are scarce as this generates significant tuition revenue. Unfortunately, this can lead to increased student debt and reduced job security for graduates from low-income families – not to mention hinder the school in adapting quickly enough to shifting markets.
4. The number of law school graduates is increasing.
Law school enrollment has remained consistent since 2008, yet remains an overwhelming financial commitment for prospective lawyers. Costs continue to rise rapidly; graduates often struggle to repay debt they accrue upon graduating; furthermore, law degrees do not guarantee employment upon graduation; yet regardless of these challenges the number of graduates continues to increase steadily.
Most prospective lawyers pursue a law degree following earning an undergraduate degree, typically majoring in subjects such as philosophy, English, history, or political science. Others might major in fields like business management or chemistry instead and find studying law more lucrative than another career path.
Once enrolled in law school, most students engage in activities such as moot court competitions and pro bono societies where they get the opportunity to practice legal skills on real cases. These experiences serve to prepare them for careers in public service, international organizations and private enterprises alike; with many graduates finding jobs at large law firms.
Top law schools have long been recognized for having high placement rates among large firms; however, recent data indicate that graduates from these schools are finding less work post-covid-19 in such institutions due to an overall decrease in job availability among such institutions. This trend could possibly reflect an overall reduction in available jobs at such organizations.
When choosing a law school, it is essential to carefully consider its job placement statistics and alumni surveys. These figures will give an idea of which positions graduates are finding in the current job market and whether any trends exist between years.
For the Class of 2023, 30,160 graduates from 195 ABA-approved law schools reported full-time, long-term Bar Passage Required or J.D. Advantage jobs within 10 months after graduating according to surveys that schools submit pursuant to Standard 509 of the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools; these figures can be found online via the ABA website.