Does a Gender Pay Gap Exist for New Law Graduates and Has It Changed Over Time?, NALP Bulletin, October 2019
NALP Research: Starting Salaries - Class of 2020
It does not take more than a quick look at the table entitled A Quarter Century Look at Median Starting Salaries by Firm Size — 1993-2017 to see that starting salaries at the largest law firms have increased far more than at smaller firms. The difference is stark: whereas the median salaries at the largest firms (251+ attorneys) have gone up by 157%, at the smallest firms the median has not even doubled. This discrepancy has contributed to the evolution of the bi-modal nature of the salary distribution.
employment rate continues upward trend for class of 2018 total number of law firm jobs increases for first time in five years.
Analysis on the timing of job offers to new law school graduates based on data from NALP, the National Association for Law Placement.
For career service professionals in charge of our departments’ employer outreach, the task of creating an employer outreach strategy to access these emerging legal career employers seems daunting. With the field being so broad, how does one even begin to formulate an employer outreach strategy? Assigned this enormous endeavor for my career services department, I decided to tackle this task by tweaking a successful employer outreach strategy I have been using for traditional legal employers. With a few key changes, I created a four-step process that breaks down outreach to emerging legal employers into bite-size, digestible pieces. Hopefully, ...
NALP Director of Research Danielle A. Taylor provides analysis on employment outcomes by race/ethnicity for Class of 2019 law school graduates from the recent Jobs & JDs publication.
NALP Director of Research Danielle Taylor shares key findings from the latest Survey of Legal Employers on 2020-21 Recruiting, which shows that the percentage of early offers for law students in 2L summer programs has increased for the fifth year in a row.
NALP Director of Research Danielle Taylor highlights changes in the racial and ethnic representation of summer associates since the Great Recession from NALP’s 2021 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms.
NALP Director of Research Danielle A. Taylor shares highlights on legal employment findings for the Class of 2021 from NALP’s annual Employment Report and Salary Survey.
Members of the NALP Foundation staff share key takeaways from the ninth annual U.S. Alumni Employment & Satisfaction Study, including employment trends, professional satisfaction, educational debt, and experiential education.
Employment data for the Class of 2003
The NALP Foundation shares data from the recently released Law School Alumni Employment & Satisfaction Study for the Class of 2021. The study has historically explored employment levels, career satisfaction, and assessment of legal education’s efficacy, and this year it adds important new information on graduates’ career aspirations and geographic dispersion while continuing to highlight the ongoing high levels of mobility for young lawyers at the three-year mark after graduation.
NALP's Research Director takes a look back at salary trends from 1985-2013 in both current dollars and constant dollars.
NALP research on the employment experience of the Class of 2013.
So how can career services offices effectively reach their student population and motivate students to translate career services guidance into action? While there’s no magic answer to the $100,000 question, a nice place to start is by providing students with a realistic view of the skills they will need in the profession, as well as straightforward advice and clear action items that offer ways to prepare for their career and further refine these needed skills. This gentle balance of being realistic about the demands of law, while also supportive and encouraging, is handled exceptionally well by author Neil W. Hamilton in the second edition of...
The overall employment rate for the Class of 2015 was unchanged from that for the Class of 2014, at 86.7% of graduates for whom employment status was known, but that statistic doesn't tell the whole story.
NALP Director of Research Danielle Taylor shares Selected Findings on employment outcomes and salaries from Jobs & JDs: Employment and Salaries of New Graduates, Class of 2019.
NALP’s Recruitment Tools Evaluation Work Group, made up from members of the Recruiting and JD Career Advisors Sections, present the results of a study on the types of resources that recruiters use to evaluate job candidates.
Employment data for the Class of 1999
Class of 2019 Attains Highest Employment Rate in 12 Years as Uncertainty Looms for the Class of 2020
Ten quick tips on how to successfully navigate the first few months of a new professional opportunity during a pandemic. These practical tips are applicable to newcomers and experienced professionals, alike.
William & Mary Law School’s Moriah Berger Allen and Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law’s Sharon Buckingham share the results of speaking with several NALP colleagues about public service during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlocking similarities and differences among various generations in the legal profession, including Baby Boomer, Gen X, and Millennial partners and associates.
The impact of the COVID-19 on job interviews, and tips for your students on how to adjust to getting important information out during the pandemic.
It's no secret that the most accurate graduate employment data is the information that is self-reported by graduates, but how can you get your graduates to respond?
Research Director Danielle A. Taylor outlines trends in public interest law firm careers from Jobs & JDs: Employment and Salaries of New Law Graduates, Class of 2021.
NALP Research: Race/Ethnicity and the Geographic Distribution of Law Firm Jobs Taken by New Graduates , October 2008
It is important for women law students — and those who advise them — to be aware of where early pay gaps may exist and of how those gaps may widen over time in their chosen employment sector.
Employment data for the Class of 2006
Employment data for the Class of 2005
Employment data for the Class of 2001
NALP Research: Class of 2024 Buying Power Index
Georgetown University Law Center’s Sunita Iyer reflects on methods for helping law students prepare for on-campus interviews (OCI) held virtually.
Information on employment trends from the Class of 2016.
NALP has updated data collection efforts for its Employment Report & Salary Survey (ERSS) to reflect evolving language for gender identification and race/ethnicity.
Interested in hearing about Generation Z’s impact on the workforce? Keep an eye on this Bulletin column series and submit your questions and comments directly to the author.
What Do We Know About Transgender Law Graduates?, NALP Bulletin, December 2019
Employment data for the Class of 2002
Employment data for the Class of 2000
Employment data for the Class of 2010
Starting a new legal career is exciting, but despite the excitement, many newer professionals are experiencing unexpected challenges that turn the glow of a new career into darkness and gloom. Transitioning from school to work is hard — thankfully, these newer professionals have you, the professional development manager, to assist in navigating career challenges. Here are three tips you can provide to new professionals to help ease the transition to practice.
With many jurisdictions having canceled and delayed bar exams, and many states offering practice pending admission/provisional licenses for new law grads, University of Akron’s Alisa Benedict O’Brien highlights resources and strategies for career services professionals to consider in this unique post-grad world.
Southwestern Law School’s Megan Evanich explains how legal career advisors can help students refocus on networking during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
COVID-19 will impact future lawyers and associates from Generation Z socially, economically and professionally as the world seeks to recover from the pandemic.
NALP Research: Race/Ethnicity and the Geographic Distribution of Law Firm Jobs Taken by New Graduates - Class of 2015, November 2016
Although the market was extremely strong for the Class of 2024, future law graduates should brace for a likely contraction in BigLaw and federal hiring. NALP’s "Perspectives on 2024 Law Student Recruiting" report indicates that many firms pulled back on their 2024 and 2025 summer associate hiring, suggesting that there will be fewer graduates employed by large firms over the next few years.
Each year NALP surveys the graduating JD class to learn about the employment experiences of new law graduates.
Law Firm Jobs Taken by New Graduates - Class of 2001, NALP Bulletin, April 2003
Law school alumni from the Class of 2014, when surveyed three years after graduation, reported higher employment rates, higher aggregate salaries, lower rates of intention to change jobs, were more often working as a practicing lawyer, and reported higher overall satisfaction with their current job than did graduates from the Classes of 2010 and 2011. The data give us another measure to assess the improvement in the law school graduate employment market following the recession.
Solidifying relationships with firm recruiters, identifying pain points, maintaining frequent contact, showcasing the local area and leveraging family connections are all ways recruiters can close the deal.
With a little planning, communication, and preparation, remote work experiences can be a positive and productive experience for both law students and their supervisors.
Christopher McKenna and Angela Sordi share some tips on what worked, and what did not, from a first attempt at virtual onboarding.
Working with law students interested in rural opportunities? Read some tips and advice from small town practitioners from Christi McCauley of Thompson Rivers University Faculty of Law.
Seattle University School of Law’s Jana Matthews and University of Hawaii’s Trisha Nakamura share tips on how newer professionals can benefit from the relationships they make through NALP.
NALP Executive Director James G. Leipold reflects on reuniting with friends old and new in New Orleans at the first in-person Annual Education Conference since 2019 during April.
NALP Webinar: Disparate Outcomes: A New Look at NALP’s Employment and Salary Data Webinar. Discussion of employment outcomes for the Class of 2019. Presented Oct. 29, 2020 by James Leipold and Danielle Taylor.
NALP Class of 2021 Preliminary ERSS Findings Webinar
Employer outreach is a two-way street. Share information and offer your resources to various administrative departments.
Many job candidates are now taking the quality of law firm alumni relations programs into consideration when researching and evaluating their employment options.
Southwestern Law School’s Megan Evanich shares four reasons why law schools, legal employers, and recruiters should consider keeping virtual interviews in place permanently moving forward.
What’s new in resume and cover letters? Reed Smith LLP’s Jennifer H. Fried and Drake University Law School’s Carole A. Tillotson offer tips for cultivating conversation with students.
Employment data for the Class of 2008
Employment data for the Class of 2009
NALP Research: Full-time Salaries for Jobs Lasting at Least One Year, by Employer or Job Type — Class of 2020
Research: Salary Trends for New Law Graduates - 1985-2013, NALP Bulletin, January 2015
Boston University’s Blair Edwards and Georgetown University Law Center’s Michele Hoff outline a brief history and look forward for the federal court hiring plan for law clerks.
Sheryl Roberts examines the myriad of issues related to on-campus interviews for legal employers following the COVID-19 pandemic.
NALP Executive Director Jim Leipold examines how things have worked out better than expected for employment outcomes related to the Class of 2020, the OCI process, and the remote work experiment-turned-new-reality as the world continues to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
University of North Texas Dallas College of Law’s Katherine Mikkelson offers pointers for professionals new to the area of counseling law students about their legal careers.
Spoken with Authority founder Christine Clapp shares communication skills for new lawyers.
NALP Research on Non-Binary Law School Graduates, December 2020
NALP Webinar: Disparate Outcomes: Another Look at NALP’s Employment and Salary Data, October 20, 2021
NALP Research: Class of 2016 Buying Power Index, April 2018
NALP Research: Trends in Median Reported Salaries — Class of 2020
Law Firm Jobs Taken by New Graduates - Distribution by Race/Ethnicity, NALP Bulletin, August 2004
It should not be surprising that the demographic composition of graduates taking certain kinds of jobs — or jobs in certain sectors — diverges from the demographic makeup of employed graduates as a whole. But the divergence is especially stark in some instances. For example, compared to their representation among employed graduates as a whole, white males take legal services jobs at about half the rate (19%) of the Class of 2017 as a whole (38%). Figures going back to 2002 show roughly the same proportions.
Advising students and graduates on negotiating the terms of their offers can have an impact felt throughout their careers.
How contributing fresh information, knowing key players in your firm’s departments, and improving a process can add value to your firm as a newer professional.
University of Hawaii’s Trisha Nakamura and Indiana University’s Whittley Pike explore how small and solo career services offices can help students build skills beyond traditional roles.
The overall employment rate for the Class of 2017 was 88.6% of graduates for whom employment status was known, up by 1.1 percentage points compared with 2016. The Class of 2017 is only the third to record an increase since 2007. Thus, the overall employment rate remains more than 3 percentage points below the 91.9% reached in 2007, which stands as the highest rate since 1988.
Employment data for the Class of 2004
Employment data for the Class of 2019
NALP Research: Employer Types with Average Salary for Class of 2020
The benefits of a financial well-being program to a law firm include a better workplace culture and improvements to the bottom line.
Husch Blackwell’s Ginette Mueller reflects on lessons for newer legal professionals about adjusting to a new job after graduating law school.
University of Akron School of Law’s Alecia Bencze explains how using the strengths of their personal interests can help career services professionals achieve more in their work roles.
Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff’s Heather DiFranco offers tips on networking and getting involved for newer professionals in the legal community that have recently joined NALP or are looking for career resources.
Helping international LL.M. students manage the interviewing process, including setting up interviews, following up with thank-you emails, and other logistical details.
Preparing your candidates early, coordinating with your clerkship committee, maintaining communication and exploring mentorship programs are various methods to help applicants seeking judicial clerkship positions.
