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"Gold Standard" (full-time, long-term, bar-required, and J.D. advantage) employment above 90% again!
Our most recent employment data is available here:
ABA Employment Summary for the Class of 2019
How do we do it?
Every student is supported by a dedicated counselor from the Law School’s Career Development Office. Students get individualized attention from their first semester on, so they can identify a career pathway that interests them and pursue related coursework and activities. To complement this unique approach to career development, the upper-level curriculum has been designed around different career paths. Students build on their required foundation courses with advanced classes, drafting courses, clinic work, internships, externships, and co-curricular activities like trial and appellate advocacy—all focused on developing practical skills and targeted expertise so St. John’s Law students graduate profession-ready.
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This data was collected and reported in April 2020 and uses the ABA’s definitions for the various categories, except if noted otherwise.
Overall, the employment status of 100% of the Class of 2019 (222/222) was ascertained by the Career Development Office. As of March 16, 2020, 208 of these graduates were employed, 1 had a deferred start date for employment, and 13 were still seeking employment. The placement rate as of March 16, 2020, for all graduates from the Class of 2019 (208/222) was 93.7%.
- ABA Employment Summary - data submitted on placement for Class of 2019
- NALP Report for Class of 2019
Types of Employment
For graduates known to be employed, both full-time and part-time, the breakdown of their areas of employment is as follows:
- Law Firms: 125/208 (60.1%)
- Government: 45/208 (21.6%)
- Business and Industry: 22/208 (10.6%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 8/208 (3.8%)
- Public Interest: 7/208 (3.4%)
- Education: 1/208 (.5%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is as follows:
- Solo: 0/125 (0%)
- 1 to 10 Attorneys: 27/125 (21.6%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 18/125 (14.4%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 11/125 (8.8%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 29/125 (23.2%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 5/125 (4%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 6/125 (4.8%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 29/125 (23.2)
Employment Breakdown
- Employed Full-Time: 204/208 (98.1%)
- Employed Part-Time: 4/208 (1.9%)
Terms of Employment
- Long-Term Basis: 207/208 (99.5%)
- Short-Term Basis: 1/208 (.5%)
Bar Admission
- Bar Passage Required: 193/208 (92.8%)
- J.D. advantage (“The possession of a JD by the graduate was sought by the employer, required by the employer, or provided a demonstrable advantage in either obtaining or performing the duties of the position from the perspective of the employer.”): 14/208 (6.7%)
- Professional Position (“The position requires professional skills or training, managerial or supervisory responsibilities, or the regular use of professional judgment from the perspective of the employer.”): 1/208 (.5%)
- Non-Professional Position (“The position does not require any special professional skills or training from the perspective of the employer.”): 0/208 (0%)
- Law School/University Funded: 0/208 (0%)
This data was collected and reported in April 2019 and uses the ABA’s definitions for the various categories, except if noted otherwise.
Overall, the employment status of 100% of the Class of 2018 (226/226) was ascertained by the Career Development Office. As of March 15, 2019, 211 of these graduates were employed, 2 had a deferred start date for employment, 12 were still seeking employment, and 1 was pursuing a graduate degree. The placement rate as of March 15, 2019, for all graduates from the Class of 2018 (211/226) was 93.4%.
ABA Employment Summary - data submitted on placement for Class of 2018 (updated May 3, 2019)
Types of Employment
For graduates known to be employed, both full-time and part-time, the breakdown of their areas of employment is as follows:
Law Firms: 128/211 (60.7%)
Government: 40/211 (19%)
Business and Industry: 23/211 (10.9%)
Judicial Clerkships: 9/211 (4.3%)
Public Interest: 9/211 (4.3%)
Education: 2/211 (.9%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is as follows:
Solo: 0/128 (0%)
2 to 10 Attorneys: 42/128 (32.8%)
11 to 25 Attorneys: 20/128 (15.6%)
26 to 50 Attorneys: 8/128 (6.3%)
51 to 100 Attorneys: 23/128 (18%)
101 to 250 Attorneys: 2/128 (1.6%)
251 to 500 Attorneys: 4/128 (3.1%)
501+ Attorneys: 29/128 (22.7%)
Employment Breakdown
Employed Full-Time: 208/211 (98.6%)
Employed Part-Time: 3/211 (1.4%)
Terms of Employment
Long-Term Basis: 210/211 (99.5%)
Short-Term Basis: 1/211 (.5%)
Bar Admission
Bar Passage Required: 186/211 (88.2%)
J.D. advantage (“The possession of a JD by the graduate was sought by the employer, required by the employer, or provided a demonstrable advantage in either obtaining or performing the duties of the position from the perspective of the employer.”): 22/211 (10.4%)
Professional Position (“The position requires professional skills or training, management or supervisory responsibilities, or the regular use of professional judgment. The possession of a JD was neither required nor a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the role from the perspective of the employer.”): 2/211 (.9%)
Non-Professional Position (“The position does not require any special professional skills or training from the perspective of the employer.”): 1/211 (.5%)
Law School/University Funded: 0/211 (0%)
This data was collected and reported in March 2018 and uses the ABA’s definitions for the various categories, except where noted.
Overall, the employment status of 100% of the Class of 2017 (214/214) was ascertained by the Career Development Office. As of March 15, 2018, 193 of these graduates were employed, 1 had a deferred start date for employment, 17 were still seeking employment, 1 was pursuing a graduate degree, and 2 were not seeking employment. The placement rate as of March 15, 2018, for all graduates from the Class of 2017 (193/214) was 90.2%.
- ABA Employment Summary - data submitted on placement for Class of 2017 (updated April 26, 2018)
Types of Employment
For graduates known to be employed, both full-time and part-time, the breakdown of their areas of employment is as follows:
- Law Firms: 114/193 (59.1%)
- Government: 32/193 (16.6%)
- Business and Industry: 37/193 (19.2%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 1/193 (0.5%)
- Public Interest: 7/193 (3.6%)
- Education: 2/193 (1.0%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is as follows:
- Solo: 0/114 (0%)
- 2 to 10 Attorneys: 30/114 (26.3%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 23/114 (20.2%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 6/114 (5.3%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 17/114 (14.9%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 7/114 (6.1%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 3/114 (2.6%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 28/114 (24.6%)
Employment Breakdown
- Employed Full-Time: 182/193 (94.3%)
- Employed Part-Time: 11/193 (5.7%)
Terms of Employment
- Long-Term Basis: 187/193 (96.9%)
- Short-Term Basis: 6/193 (3.1%)
Bar Admission
- Bar admission required/anticipated (includes judicial clerks): 157/193 (81.3%)
- JD advantage (“A position in this category is one for which the employer sought an individual with a J.D., and perhaps even required a J.D., or for which the J.D. provided a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the job, but which does not itself require bar passage or an active law license or involve practicing law.”): 27/193 (14%)
- Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that requires professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither required nor a demonstrable advantage. Examples of persons in this category include a math or science teacher, business manager, or performing arts specialist. Other examples include professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers, or architects, if a J.D. was not demonstrably advantageous in obtaining the position or in performing the duties of the position.”): 4/193 (2.1%)
- Non-Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that does not require any special professional skills or training.”): 2/193 (1.0%)
- Law School/University Funded: 3/193 (1.6%)
This data was collected and reported in March 2017 and uses the ABA’s definitions for the various categories, except where noted.
Overall, the employment status of 100% of the Class of 2016 (244/244) was ascertained by the Career Development Office. As of March 15, 2017, 224 of these graduates were employed, 19 were still seeking employment, and 1 was pursuing a graduate degree. The placement rate as of March 15, 2017, for all graduates from the Class of 2016 (224/244) was 92%.
- ABA Employment Summary - data submitted on placement for Class of 2016 (April 7, 2017)
Types of Employment
For graduates known to be employed, both full-time and part-time, the breakdown of their areas of employment is as follows:
- Law Firms: 128/224 (57.1%)
- Government: 42/224 (18.8%)
- Business and Industry: 36/224 (16.1%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 5/224 (2.2%)
- Public Interest: 8/224 (3.6%)
- Education: 5/224 (2.2%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is as follows:
- Solo: 1/128 (0.8%)
- 2 to 10 Attorneys: 46/128 (35.9%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 11/128 (8.6%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 15/128 (11.7%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 14/128 (10.9%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 6/128 (4.7%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 5/128 (3.9%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 30/128 (23.4%)
Employment Breakdown
- Employed Full-Time: 211/224 (94.2%)
- Employed Part-Time: 13/224 (5.8%)
Terms of Employment
- Long-Term Basis: 214/224 (95.5%)
- Short-Term Basis: 10/224 (4.5%)
Bar Admission
- Bar admission required/anticipated (includes judicial clerks): 179/224 (79.9%)
- JD advantage (“A position in this category is one for which the employer sought an individual with a J.D., and perhaps even required a J.D., or for which the J.D. provided a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the job, but which does not itself require bar passage or an active law license or involve practicing law.”): 36/224 (16.1%)
- Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that requires professional skills or training but for which a J.D. is neither required nor a demonstrable advantage. Examples of persons in this category include a math or science teacher, business manager, or performing arts specialist. Other examples include professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers, or architects, if a J.D. was not demonstrably advantageous in obtaining the position or in performing the duties of the position.”): 2/224 (0.9%)
- Non-Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that does not require any special professional skills or training.”): 2/224 (0.9%)
- Law School/University Funded: 5/224 (2.2%)
Salary Data
Salary data is based on NALP definitions. 170 of 224 graduates employed full-time (75.9%) reported their salaries to the Career Development Office. Below is detailed salary data reported for full-time employment in major categories:
Law Firms: (96 out of 128 graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $60,000
Median: $80,000
75th Percentile: $180,000
Government: (40 out of 42 graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $60,000
Median $61,200
75th Percentile: $65,750
Business and Industry: (22 out of 36 graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $60,000
Median: $72,500
75th Percentile: $88,000
Public Interest: (6 out of 8 graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $51,250
Median: $55,625
75th Percentile: $60,000