Is it hard to find jobs after law school?
Asked by: Sandra Hand | Last update: August 9, 2025Score: 4.8/5 (13 votes)
Many law students and graduated law students struggle to find a job after law school. It is no secret that the legal job market is at an all-time low. Law students and new lawyers compete for the few jobs that have openings.
Is it difficult to find a job after law school?
In my experience it's not too difficult to find a job straight out of law school as long as you built up your resume during law school (Ie internships, relevant legal jobs, etc.). Any decent law school will have ample opportunities through the career services center.
What percent of law school graduates get a job?
Share: The national legal job market for new law school graduates continues to show an uptick in full-time employment opportunities. A recent ABA report showed employment for 85.6% of 2023 law school graduates compared to 84.6% of graduates in the previous year.
Does law school help you get a job?
It can be significant, depending on what school you can get into and what kind of work you want to do. The general rule is that if you get into a super-elite law school (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, etc.) you can pretty much get hired anywhere.
How likely are you to get a job as a lawyer?
Job Outlook
Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 35,600 openings for lawyers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
Job Options After Law School.
What field of law is most in demand?
- Intellectual property law. ...
- Family law. ...
- Immigration & naturalization law. ...
- Real estate law. ...
- Contract management. ...
- Compliance. ...
- Labor and employment. ...
- Corporate transactions. Also known as mergers and acquisitions, or M&A, this work navigates the buying and selling of companies and their assets.
How hard is it to get a job after passing the bar?
More than 35% of law students nationally get their job after the bar exam. (It is probably more in that this the first real post-pandemic year). Fear not! Here are some steps to take to ensure getting that job as soon as possible.
What salary makes law school worth it?
Starting Salaries for Law School Graduates
Among the 130 ranked law schools that reported the median private sector salary for their 2022 classes, the overall median was $89,250 and the range was $52,000 to $215,000. Nine schools reported salaries above $202,000.
How long does it take to find a job as a lawyer?
At its speediest, from initial call to signing up with a new firm can take 2-3 weeks, though this is very rare. Usually start to finish takes a few months and in many instances, I will work with people over a number of years before they make a move.
Is law school hard or just a lot of work?
Being prepared to work hard – Law school classes are part of a demanding program, and you need to be prepared to be a good student and put in the time and effort to succeed. That work includes doing all of the assigned reading, avoiding low grades, and preparing well for final exams.
What is the failure rate for law school?
In 2023, the collective attrition rate across all law schools was 3.8 percent, underscoring a significant yet frequently underestimated factor in the assessment of legal education.
How old are most law school graduates?
What Is The Average Age Of Law Students? The average age of law students is 25 or younger. Only 20% of law students are 30 or older. While only a small percentage of law students are above the age of 40, there have been several successful older graduates.
What GPA do most law students have?
The average GPA for law school is between 3.91. However, like LSAT scores, it's important to understand that the specific average GPA can differ depending on the law school and its level of competitiveness. Top-ranking law schools often expect higher average GPAs, typically ranging from 3.8 to 4.0 or even higher.
How do I get my first job after law school?
Many law firms hire through referrals, so don't underestimate the power of networking. As a new law school graduate, you are now a part of the university's alumni network. Alumni can access the network to ask for career information or job search advice from other alumni.
How many law school grads are unemployed?
Only 5% of 2023 graduates are still listed as unemployed/seeking. For the class of 2022, the aggregated school data shows that 30,512 or 84.6% of the 2022 graduates were employed in full-time, long-term Bar Passage Required or J.D.
How hard is it to pass the bar?
For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it. Despite its difficulty, many law school graduates who take the bar exam pass the first time, with pass rates often ranging from about 50% to nearly 90%, depending on the jurisdiction.
Is it hard getting a job after law school?
Many law students and graduated law students struggle to find a job after law school. It is no secret that the legal job market is at an all-time low. Law students and new lawyers compete for the few jobs that have openings.
Are you a lawyer after you pass the bar exam?
Attorneys, lawyers, and counsel have all been educated and trained in law. As explained above, attorneys must pass the bar exam and practice law in court. Lawyers have also taken the bar exam, and may or may not practice law. Counsels provide legal advice, and often work for an organization or corporation.
How do lawyers get their first job?
Find the right firms
Visit your law school's career services office. It is literally our job to help you get jobs—take advantage! Ask for lists of employers where students and graduates have gone to work. This will help you learn which law firms may be interested in hiring students from your school.
What is the dropout rate for law school?
The decision to attend law school shouldn't just be financially driven. You'll also want to consider the high dropout rates of law school, particularly among minorities. Overall, dropout rates are over 6% for first-year students. For American Indian, Hawaiian native, and Black students, the dropout rate is 11% to 13%.
Is law school harder than med school?
Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.
What is the average debt after law school?
The average law school graduate owes $130,000 in student loan debt. 71% of law school students graduate in debt. $119,292 is the average amount students borrow just to attend law school.
Why is becoming a lawyer so hard?
When you choose to be a lawyer, you are choosing a path that often requires putting in long hours to study and prepare for each case. Clients can be demanding. Your assignments can start off as fairly low stakes and shift into stressful high-stakes scenarios overnight, depending on a variety of factors.
Do law school graduates get jobs?
The second is that the job market for law school graduates is very resilient, and despite periods of boom and bust, most law school graduates secure jobs and careers that are rewarding and fulfilling, even as some grads face a bumpy start right out of law school during those periods of slowdown.