Summary: Law school graduates from 2015, especially from Chicago Law, have experienced better employment rates due to less competition over the number of positions.
The University of Chicago Law School has experienced an unusually good year in their employment rates. The National Law Journal reported that the University of Chicago Law School’s employment rate for 2015 graduates with full-time legal jobs was 91 percent. This number is higher than any other law school according to the American Bar Association.
The graduating class in 2015 was smaller than in past years but the number of graduates with full-time legal jobs remained the same, helping them bump up to No. 1 from the No. 5 spot in 2014.
The Class of 2014 had a greater number of students participating in the joint J.D./MBA program so many of the graduates took nontraditional legal jobs. This year the law school had more students enter into positions where a law degree is required compared to jobs where a law degree offers an advantage. Senior director of career services at Chicago Law, Lois Casaleggi noted that 10 graduates took J.D.-advantage jobs last year and only two took that kind of job this year.
Read University of New Mexico Law School Reveals Higher Employment Rates.
The No. 2 School, No. 1 last year, was the University of Pennsylvania Law School with roughly 90 percent of graduates finding full-time legal work. The average from all schools for graduates with full-time jobs within ten months of graduation rose to 59.3 percent from 57.9 percent but the increase has been accredited to the decrease in the number graduates and not actual job growth in the industry.
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To learn more about employment rates, read The Top 11 Northeast Law Schools in Employment Rates.
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