Legal Education Data Deck - KEY TRENDS ON ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY AND VALUE October 2018 - AccessLex
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Legal Education Data Deck KEY TRENDS ON ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY AND VALUE October 2018
Foreword
AccessLex Institute® offers this 2018 Legal Education Data Deck for the
use of the legal education community, policymakers, and others interested
in viewing a snapshot of certain data and trends organized around the
three driving principles of AccessLex Institute’s research agenda: access,
affordability and value. This is a living document that will be updated
periodically—AccessLex Institute welcomes comments, criticisms and
suggestions so that this document will be a useful tool to those
whom we serve.
In compiling this data deck, we have utilized publicly available datasets
from third parties, including but not limited to the Law School Admission
Council, the National Conference of Bar Examiners, the National
Association for Law Placement and the American Bar Association Section
of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. We thank these and other
organizations for making such data available.
AccessLex Institute uses these data as the basis for the presentation, analysis
and commentary contained herein, and takes sole responsibility for the
quality and accuracy of such presentation, analysis and commentary.
AccessLex.org iiiAbout AccessLex Institute
AccessLex Institute, in partnership with its 200 nonprofit and state-affiliated
ABA-approved member law schools, has been committed to improving
access to legal education and to maximizing the affordability and value
of a law degree since 1983. The AccessLex Center for Legal Education
Excellence® advocates for policies that make legal education work better
for students and society alike, and conducts research on the most critical
issues facing legal education today. The AccessLex Center for Education
and Financial Capability® offers on-campus and online financial education
programming and resources to help students confidently manage their
finances on their way to achieving personal and professional success.
AccessLex Institute is a nonprofit organization with offices in West Chester,
Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. and with accredited financial counselors
throughout the U.S.
AccessLex.org ivLaw Students in the United States
Fall 2017 J.D. Enrollment at AccessLex Institute Member Law Schools, by State
2,501 or more 1,001–2,500 501–1,000 500 or fewer No J.D. enrollment reported
WA
PR
MT ME
ND
OR MN VT
ID NH
SD WI NY
MA
WY MI
RI
IA PA
NE CT
NV OH
UT IL IN NJ
CA CO WV DE
KS VA
MO MD HI
KY
NC DC
TN
AZ OK
NM AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA AK
FL
Note: This map includes only the 200 AccessLex Institute member schools as of 2017.
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018a. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org vTable of Contents
Access 1
Applicants, Admission and Matriculation in Law School
Law School Applicants, Admits and Matriculants, 2004–2017 2
Law School Admission Rates, 2004–2017 3
Application and Admission Rates by Gender, 2013-2017 4
Total J.D. Enrollment by Gender, 1980–2017 5
Racial/Ethnic Diversity of Law School Applicants, 2013-2017 6
Admission Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Overall, 2013-2017 7
Law School Enrollment
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to Minority Students and Percentage of
First-Year Enrolled Minority J.D. Students 8
Full-Time and Part-Time Minority J.D. Enrollment, 2009–2016 9
Highest Level of Parent Education Among Graduate Students by Type of Program, 2015–2016 10
Percentage of Students Enrolled in Graduate and Professional Programs Who
Received Pell Grants as Undergraduate Students, 2015–2016 11
2007–2008 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Completed Graduate Degrees by 2012,
by Family Income in 2006 and Graduate Program Area 12
J.D. and Non-J.D. Enrollment, 2008-2017 13
J.D. Degrees Awarded
Total J.D. Degrees Awarded at ABA-Approved Law Schools, 2004-2017 14
Percentage of J.D. Degrees Awarded to Ethnic Minorities, 1986-2017 15
AccessLex.org viTable of Contents
Affordability 16
Average Full-Time Tuition and Fees (in 2017 Dollars) by School Type and Residency, 2011–2017 17
Percentage of Law Students Who Still Owe on Undergraduate Loans, 2015–2016 18
Percentage of Law Students Who Worked While Enrolled, by Year and Institution Type 19
Percentage of Law Graduates Who Borrowed For Graduate Education, by Year and Institution Type, 2004–2016 20
Cumulative Amount Borrowed (in 2016 Dollars) by Law Students While Enrolled, by Year
and Institution Type, 2004–2016 21
Value 22
Occupations Requiring Graduate or Professional Degree With Most Projected Job Openings, 2016–2026 23
Percentage of ABA-Approved Law School Graduates Passing the Bar on the First Try,
by Month of Exam, 2008–2017 24
First-Time Bar Passage Rates for Graduates of ABA-Approved Law Schools by State, 2017 25
Change in First-Time Bar Passage Rates for Graduates of ABA-Approved Law Schools, by State, From 2016 to 2017 26
Recent J.D. Graduates by Employment Status, 2008–2017 27
Full-Time and Part-Time Employment of Recent J.D. Graduates, 2008–2017 28
Recent J.D. Graduate Employment by Sector, 2008–2017 29
Median Salary (in 2017 Dollars) of Recent J.D. Graduates by Sector, 2008–2017 30
Median Salary (in 2017 Dollars) of Recent J.D. Graduates by Employment Type, 2008–2017 31
1992–1993 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Earned a Graduate Degree by 2003,
by Whether or Not They Believe Graduate Education Was Worth the Cost 32
2007–2008 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Earned a Graduate Degree by 2012,
by Whether or Not They Believe Graduate Education Was Worth the Cost 33
Detailed Data Sources 34
AccessLex.org viACCESS
Law School Applicants, Admits and Matriculants, 2004–2017
The number of applicants and admitted applicants for all terms decreased slightly between 2016 and 2017.
Applicants Admitted applicants Matriculants
56,400
42,300
36,300
37,100
All Terms ʻ17
Source: Law School Admission Council, 2018a, 2018b and 2018c. American Bar Association, 2018a and 2018b.
AccessLex.org 2Law School Admission Rates, 2004–2017
Three-quarters of law school applicants were admitted in 2017. The percentage of admitted applicants for all
terms dropped slightly between 2016 and 2017.
Percentage of Applicants Who Were Admitted
75%
All Terms ʻ17
Source: Law School Admission Council, 2018a and 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 3Application and Admission Rates by Gender, 2013–2017
Fall data trends have consistently shown increasing numbers of female applicants but male admission
rates outpacing those of females. Data from all terms in 2017 indicate similar trends with gender gaps
in both applicants and admission rates.
Male Female
100%
80% 80% 80% 79% 78% 78%
74% 76% 76%
74% 74%
60%
52% 53%
50% 49% 50% 50% 51%
49% 47% 46%
40%
20%
0%
Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 All Terms 2016 All Terms 2017 Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 All Terms 2016 All Terms 2017
Law School Applicants by Gender Law School Admission Rates by Gender
Data Source: Law School Admission Council, 2018a and 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 4Total J.D. Enrollment by Gender, 1980–2017
Prior to 2000, male and female J.D. enrollment moved inversely, with male enrollment falling as female
enrollment increased. For more than a decade, they have moved in tandem. However, female enrollment
surpassed male enrollment in 2017 for the first time since 1992.
Male Female
90,000
80,000
70,000
60,000
2017
2017
50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
Note: Since 2014–2015, the American Bar Association has included “other” as a gender category. The enrollment reported for this category in 2014–2015
is too small to appear in this figure.
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 5Racial/Ethnic Diversity of Law School Applicants, 2013–2017
The proportion of law school applicants who identify as ethnic minorities remained stable between 2016
and 2017; however, some ethnic groups experienced increases.
Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 All Terms 2016 All Terms 2017
100%
90%
80%
70%
64%
60% 62% 62% 61% 62%
50%
40%
30%
20%
14% 15% 15% 15% 15%
13% 13%
10% 11% 11% 12% 10% 11% 10% 10% 11%
3% 3% 3% 3% 3% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
0% .5% .5% .5% .4% .5%
Caucasian/ Black/ Hispanic/Latino Asian Puerto Rico American Indian/ Native Hawaiian/
White African American Alaskan Native Other Pacific Islander
Note: Applicants who identify as more than one race/ethnicity are reported in each.
Data Source: Law School Admission Council, 2018a.
AccessLex.org 6Admission Rates by Race/Ethnicity and Overall,
2013–All Terms 2017
Between 2016 and 2017, admission rates declined across nearly all racial/ethnic categories. Admission rates
remained the same for white applicants.
Caucasian White Asian American Indian/Alaska Native Hispanic/Latino Puerto Rican
Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander Black/African American Overall admission rate
85% 85%
84% 83% 83%
77% 78% 78%
76% 76% 76% 75% 76% 75%
74%
73% 72%
71% 71% 72% 71% 71% 72%
68% 68% 69% 70% 68% 68% 67% 67% 67%
63%
61%
59%
57% 56%
55% 54%
51%
Fall 2013 Fall 2014 Fall 2015 All Terms 2016 All Terms 2017
Note: Applicants who identify as more than one race/ethnicity are reported in each.
Data Source: Law School Admission Council, 2018b and 2018c. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 7Percentage of Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to Minority Students
and Percentage of First-Year Enrolled Minority J.D. Students
The increase in the proportion of first-year law school students who are minorities mirrors the change in the
proportion among bachelor’s degree recipients over the past 6 years.
2010 - 2011 2011 - 2012 2012 - 2013 2013 - 2014 2014 - 2015 2015 - 2016 2016 - 2017
32% 33%
29% 30% 31% 30% 31% 31%
28% 27%
25% 26%
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degrees Percentage of First-Year Enrolled Minority
Awarded to Minorities J.D. Students
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018b; U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for
Education Statistics, 2015 and 2016. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 8Full-Time and Part-Time Minority J.D. Enrollment, 2009–2016
Minority students make up a greater percentage of part-time than full-time J.D. students, comprising
38 percent of part-time law students in 2016.
Full-time Part-time
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018a and 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 9Highest Level of Parent Education Among Graduate Students by
Type of Program, 2015–2016
Recent estimates indicate that students who were the first in their families to go to college are in the minority
among students enrolled in graduate programs. In 2015–2016, about 10 percent of law students had a parent
whose educational attainment was a high school diploma or less.
HS diploma Associates/Certificate/ Bachelor’s Master’s degree Doctoral Degree— Doctoral Degree—
or below Some College degree or equivalent professional practice research/scholarship
5% 5% 5% 5% 4% 5% 3%
9% 8% 8% 7% 9% 7% 7% 3%
5% 6% 7% 6%
5% 12% 6% 6%
17% 9%
14% 17%
17%
23% 21% 22% 20% 21%
22% 12% 19% 22%
23% 13%
20% 16%
25%
24% 28% 25% 23% 21%
21% 25% 23%
21%
25%
23% 23%
25%
25%
30% 26% 22%
27% 31% 27% 26% 27%
29%
22% 23%
25%
23%
27%
13% 20% 21%
15% 15% 15% 16% 17% 17% 17% 17%
10% 11%
5%
e
w
e
D
r ts
)
)
)
l
n
e
)
r's
PP /
ra
SW
PH
BA
D
/M tion
io
in
in
nc
Ph
te
La
fA
d.
)
to
ic
ic
t
e
(M
ca
(M
as
(E
(M
ed
ed
oc
ci
PA tra
ro
du
M
fS
D
M
M
n
lth
s
(M is
k
te
es
io
fE
ro
y in
er
or
er
ea
er
as
at
sin
lic m
th
ro
lW
th
te
th
uc
H
M
d
Bu
O
O
as
O
Po A
te
Ed
lic
ia
M
as
ic
c
b
So
bl
Pu
M
Pu
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,
NPSAS:16. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 10Percentage of Students Enrolled in Graduate and Professional
Programs Who Received Pell Grants as Undergrads, 2015–2016
The proportion of students enrolled in graduate and professional programs who received Pell Grants as
undergraduate students varies by discipline. In 2015–2016, over a third of law school students previously
received a Pell Grant to help fund their undergraduate studies.
100%
90%
80%
70%
62%
60%
57%
50% 48%
47%
44% 45%
42%
40% 38%
40%
36% 37%
33%
30% 31%
27%
20%
10%
0%
w
e
.
n
l
s
e
e
rʼs
.P lth
n
. ts
.W k
n/
ra
.D
es
.S or
io
io
in
in
c
r
.)
.)
.)
.)
.)
.)
.)
La
en
te
./ tio
fA
ea
)
to
Ph
ic
ic
sin
at
at
(M W
D
D
.S
.H
P.
.A
A
as
J.
d.
ed
ed
P.
oc
ci
(M
.A ra
H
uc
uc
.B
(M
ro
Bu
.
(E
al
or
fS
(M
M
M
(M
t
D
M
M
ic
Ed
Ed
(M inis
ci
te
B
bl
ro
er
er
L.
So
er
as
of
Pu
(L
lic m
th
.P
th
te
th
M
d
O
rs
O
as
O
Po c A
te
y
M
as
i
bl
M
Pu
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,
NPSAS:16. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 112007–2008 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Completed
Graduate Degrees by 2012, by Family Income in 2006
and Graduate Program Area
Compared to the overall U.S. population, few 2007–2008 bachelor’s degree recipients who completed graduate
degrees by 2012 came from lower income families. In particular, a high percentage of law school graduates come
from high-income families. Of those who completed graduate degrees in legal education by 2012, two-thirds
came from families earning $90,000 or more.
$50k or less $50k to $90k $90k to $130k $130k or more
*Estimated income distribution among all U.S. households. Calculated using those households reporting positive income on 2006 American Community Survey.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, Baccalaureate and
Beyond Longitudinal Study, B&B:08/12a; U.S. Census, 2006. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 12J.D. and Non-J.D. Enrollment, 2008–2017
Non-J.D. students make up a greater share of law school enrollment than 10 years ago. The percentage
of non-J.D. students has increased from 6 percent to 14 percent since 2008.
Percent J.D. enrollment Percent non-J.D. enrollment
11% 14%
89% 86%
2016 - 17 2017 - 18
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 13Total J.D. Degrees Awarded at ABA-Approved Law Schools,
2004–2017
The number of J.D. degrees awarded per year increased overall between 2004 and 2013, then began to decline in
2014. In 2017, about 35,000 J.D. degrees were awarded.
50k
37,173
34,991
2016 -17
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018a and 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 14Percentage of J.D. Degrees Awarded to Ethnic Minorities,
1986–2017
The proportion of law degrees awarded to racial and ethnic minorities has increased over the last 30 years.
In 1986-1987, 9.7 percent of law degrees were awarded to racial and ethnic minorities; in 2016-2017, that figure
has grown to 29.8 percent.
29.8%
9.7%
7
ʼ1
6-
ʼ1
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018a and 2018b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 15AFFORDABILITY
Average Full-Time Tuition and Fees (in 2017 Dollars) by School
Type and Residency, 2011–2017
Average tuition and fees for full-time students have increased across all sectors during the last 7 years. Since 2011,
average full-time resident tuition and fees at public law schools have increased 9 percent; private law school
tuition and fees have increased 8 percent; and public non-resident tuition and fees have increased 5 percent.
Private Public non-resident Public resident
$46,240
$42,340
$37,650 $39,670
$24,220 $26,420
2016 2017
Note: Data presented are most recent as of March 2018. Figures shown are inflation adjusted using the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) from
July of the year indicated, with 1982–1984 as the base years. The following schools did not report data in the given year, and are excluded from the average tuition
and fees calculation indicated: Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (2015 public non-resident); University of Puerto Rico (2015 public non-resident); and Atlanta’s
John Marshall Law School (2014 private).
Data Source: American Bar Association, 2018a. Data presentation, including conversion to real dollars, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 17Percentage of Law Students Who Still Owe on Undergraduate
Loans, 2015–2016
Nearly half of enrolled law school students are carrying undergraduate debt. In 2015-2016, the median amount of
debt still owed among those with outstanding undergraduate loans was $25,500.
Percentage of law students who still Percentage of law students who do
owe on undergraduate loans not owe on undergraduate loans
45% 55%
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,
NPSAS:16. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 18Percentage of Law Students Who Worked While Enrolled,
by Year and Institution Type
More than half of enrolled law students reported earnings from off-campus employment at both public and
private, nonprofit schools. Their median hourly earnings were $15 in 2015-2016.
All Institution types Public Private nonprofit
70%
60% 58% 57%
55% 56%
50%
40%
30%
56% 59% 57% 58%
55% 55% 55% 55%
20%
10%
0%
2004 2008 2012 2016
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, National Postsecondary Student Aid Study,
NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, NPSAS:12 and NPSAS:16. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 19Percentage of Law Graduates Who Borrowed For Graduate
Education, by Year and Institution Type, 2004–2016
A majority of law graduates use loans to fund their graduate education. However, the proportion of graduates who
borrowed declined by 17 percentage points between 2012 and 2016.
All Institution types Public Private nonprofit
100%
92%
90% 87% 88%
80%
71%
70%
60%
50%
95%
89% 91% 89% 88%
40% 83%
71%
30% 66%
20%
10%
0%
2004 2008 2012 2016
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), National Postsecondary Student
Aid Study, NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, NPSAS:12 and NPSAS:16. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 20Cumulative Amount Borrowed (in 2016 Dollars) by Law Students
While Enrolled, by Year and Institution Type, 2004–2016
As the percentage of law graduates who borrowed declined, the average cumulative amount of graduate debt
also decreased between 2012 and 2016.
All Institution types Public Private nonprofit
$160,000
$140,000 $138,100
$128,000
$120,000 $116,900 $122,600
$104,100 $105,000
$100,000 $100,400
$89,500 $87,800
$80,000
$60,000 $59,700 $62,300
$40,000
$20,000
$0
2004 2008 2012 2016
Note: Minimum reporting standards were not met for law school graduates who attended public institutions in 2016.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Educational Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), National Postsecondary Student
Aid Study, NPSAS:04, NPSAS:08, NPSAS:12 and NPSAS:16. Data presentation, including conversion to real dollars, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 21VALUE
Occupations Requiring Graduate or Professional Degree With
Most Projected Job Openings, 2016–2026
The latest occupational outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects lawyer positions will have the
most job openings among positions requiring a graduate or professional degree.
New (Added) Jobs Job Openings
0 20k 40k 60k 80k 100k 120k 140k
Lawyers 65,000 40,700 105,700
Health Specialties
60,600 25,800 86,400
Teachers, postsecondary
Physical therapists 67,100 17,700 84,800
Educational, Guidance, School,
36,700 35,300 72,000
or Vocational Counselors
Nurse Practitioners 56,100 14,400 70,500
Note: Detail may not sum to totals due to rounding. Job openings from growth represent projections for job creation. Job openings from
replacement are projected based on expected retirement and other employment departures.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2017, October.
AccessLex.org 23Percentage of ABA-Approved Law School Graduates Passing the
Bar on the First Try, by Month of Exam, 2008–2017
Overall first-time bar passage rates for graduates of ABA-approved law schools were higher in July than
in February during the period from 2008 to 2017, but the gap has narrowed. July pass rates were
10 percentage points higher in 2008, and 14 percentage points higher in 2017.
February July
100%
90%
87%
85%
83% 83% 82%
80% 81%
77% 78% 78% 78%
76% 75%
73% 73% 74% 74% 74%
70% 69%
66%
64%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Data Source: National Conference of Bar Examiners, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 24First-Time Bar Passage Rates for Graduates of ABA-Approved
Law Schools by State, 2017
In 2017, 75 percent of all first-time exam takers from ABA-approved law schools passed the bar. However, the
proportion of these exam takers passing varies from state to state.
80% or more 75% - 79% 70% - 74% 69% or less
PR
WA
MT ME
ND
OR MN VT
ID NH
SD WI NY
MA
WY MI
RI
IA PA
NE CT
NV OH
UT IL IN NJ
HI
CA CO WV DE
KS VA
MO MD
KY
NC DC
TN
AZ OK
NM AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA AK
FL
Note: Bar passage is shown by the state of bar administration, not the location of the exam taker’s law school.
Data Source: National Conference of Bar Examiners, 2017. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 25Change in First-Time Bar Passage Rates for Graduates of
ABA-Approved Law Schools, by State, From 2016 to 2017
Between 2016 and 2017, a majority of states saw decreases in first-time bar passage rates among graduates of
ABA-approved law schools.
Decrease Increase No Change
PR
WA
MT ME
ND
OR MN VT
ID NH
SD WI NY
MA
WY MI
RI
IA PA
NE CT
NV OH
UT IL IN NJ
HI
CA CO WV DE
KS VA
MO MD
KY
NC DC
TN
AZ OK
NM AR SC
MS AL GA
TX LA
AK
FL
Data Source: National Conference of Bar Examiners, 2016 and 2017. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 26Recent J.D. Graduates by Employment Status, 2008–2017
The percentage of recent law graduates who obtain employment in jobs requiring bar passage has increased
over the last five years, and jumped four percentage points between 2016 and 2017. The unemployment
rate has also improved—the proportion of recent law graduates who are unemployed and seeking work has
declined since 2014.
Bar passage required J.D. advantage Unemployed-seeking All others
11% 9% 9% 9% 8%
12% 14% 15% 12% 12%
9% 8%
5% 10% 10%
6% 6% 10% 11% 11%
8% 12%
9% 14% 15%
11% 15%
13% 13% 14%
75% 72%
71% 68% 65% 64% 64% 66% 67% 68%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Note: These data are based on law school graduates whose employment status was reported to NALP and may not be fully representative of the total law school graduating
class indicated. In 2014, NALP changed the timing of the survey administration from 9 months post-graduation to 10 months post-graduation. Use caution when interpreting
data and when comparing from year to year.
Data Source: National Association for Law Placement, 2017. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 27Full-Time and Part-Time Employment of Recent J.D. Graduates,
2008–2017
The percentage of recent law school graduates employed in part-time positions continues to decline as more
graduates obtain full-time employment.
Full-time Part-time
10% 11% 12% 10%
6% 8% 7% 7% 6% 5%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Note: These data are based on law school graduates whose employment status was reported to NALP and may not be fully representative of the total law school
graduating class indicated. In 2014, NALP changed the timing of the survey administration from 9 months post-graduation to 10 months post-graduation.
Use caution when interpreting data and when comparing from year to year.
Data Source: National Association for Law Placement, 2017. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 28Recent J.D. Graduate Employment by Sector, 2008–2017
Since 2014, the proportion of graduates working in private practice and judicial clerkships has increased
while the percentage working in business has decreased. The proportion of graduates working in
government, public interest and academic jobs has remained flat.
Private practice Business Government Judicial clerk Public interest Academic Unknown type
5% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7% 7%
6% 7% 8%
10% 9% 9% 9% 10% 11% 11%
9% 9%
9%
12% 11% 12% 12% 12% 12% 12%
12% 12%
13%
13% 13%
18% 18% 18% 17% 16% 14%
15% 18%
56% 56% 54%
51% 50% 51% 51% 51% 51% 53%
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Note: These data are based on law school graduates whose employment status was reported to NALP and may not be fully representative of the total law
school graduating class indicated. In 2014, NALP changed the timing of the survey administration from 9 months post-graduation to 10 months post-
graduation. Use caution when interpreting data and when comparing from year to year.
Data Source: National Association for Law Placement, 2017. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 29Median Salary (in 2017 Dollars) of Recent JD Graduates by
Sector, 2008–2017
The median salary for class of 2017 graduates working in private practice is $117,000, down from the high point
of $148,000 for the class of 2009, but continuing to increase from a low of $92,000 for the class of 2011. Other
sectors show smaller fluctuations.
Private Practice Government Judicial Clerk Business Academic Public Interest Unknown
$160k
$140k
$120k
$100k
$80k
$60k Median
$40k
$20k
$0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2015 2016 2017
Note: These data are based on law school graduates whose employment status was reported to the NALP and may not be fully representative of the total law school
graduating class indicated. In 2014, NALP changed the timing of the survey administration from 9 months post-graduation to 10 months post-graduation. Use
caution when interpreting data and when comparing from year to year.
Data Source: National Association for Law Placement, 2017. Data presentation, including conversion to real dollars, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 30Median Salary (in 2017 Dollars) of Recent JD Graduates by
Employment Type, 2008–2017
For all employment categories, the median salary of class of 2017 graduates is lower than the median for
the class of 2008.
Bar passage required J.D. advantage Other professional Non professional
$90k
$80k
$70k
Median
$60k
$50k
$40k
$30k
$20k
$10k
$0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Note: These data are based on law school graduates whose employment status was reported to NALP and may not be fully representative of the total law school
graduating class indicated. In 2014, NALP changed the timing of the survey administration from 9 months post-graduation to 10 months post-graduation. Use caution
when interpreting data and when comparing from year to year.
Data Source: National Association for Law Placement, 2017. Data presentation, including conversion to real dollars, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 311992–1993 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Earned a Graduate
Degree by 2003, by Whether or Not They Believe Graduate
Education Was Worth the Cost
When surveyed 10 years after graduation, most 1992–1993 bachelor’s degree recipients who had since earned a
graduate degree agreed that their graduate education was worth the cost, regardless of program type. Over 80
percent of law-related degree recipients felt their education was worth the money.
Graduate education not worth its cost Yes, graduate education worth its cost
Note: Data are shown by major/field of study as reported by the survey respondent and include all graduate degree types (i.e., master’s,
professional, doctoral). Therefore, “law” includes J.D. recipients, but could also include Master of Legal Studies and similar recipients.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal
Study B&B:93/03. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 322007–2008 Bachelor’s Degree Recipients Who Earned a
Graduate Degree by 2012, by Whether or Not They Believe
Graduate Education Was Worth the Cost
The perspectives of more recent graduate degree recipients are noticeably different. When surveyed 4 years
later, 52 percent of 2007–2008 bachelor’s degree recipients who had since earned a graduate degree in legal
professions and studies felt their education was worth the cost.
Graduate education not worth its cost Yes, graduate education worth its cost
Note: Data are shown by major/field of study as reported by the survey respondent and include all graduate degree types (i.e., master’s,
professional, doctoral). Therefore, “Legal professions and studies” includes J.D. recipients, but could also include Master of Legal Studies
and similar recipients.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, National Center for Education Statistics, Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal
Study, B&B:08/12b. Data presentation, analysis and commentary by AccessLex Institute.
AccessLex.org 33Detailed Data Sources
American Bar Association. (2018a). Compilation – All Schools Data. National Association for Law Placement. (2009). Class of 2008
Section of Legal Education – ABA Required Disclosures. national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from http://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/ Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/natlsummary2008.pdf.
American Bar Association. (2018b). Statistics. National Association for Law Placement. (2010). Class of 2009
Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/statistics.html Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NatlSummaryChartClassof09.pdf.
Law School Admission Council. (2018a). National Association for Law Placement. (2011). Class of 2010
Admitted Applicants by Ethnic and Gender Group. national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from https://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/data/ethnicity-sex-admits Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NationalSummaryChartforSchools2010.pdf.
Law School Admission Council. (2018b). National Association for Law Placement. (2012). Class of 2011
Admitted Applicants by Ethnic and Gender Group (archive) national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from https://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/data/ethnicity-sex-admits/archive-1 Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NatlSummChart_Classof2011.pdf.
Law School Admission Council. (2018c). National Association for Law Placement. (2013). Class of 2012
Applicants by Ethnic and Gender Group. national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from: https://www.lsac.org/lsacresources/data/ethnicity-sex-applicants Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NationalSummaryChart2012.pdf.
National Association for Law Placement. (2008). Class of 2007 National Association for Law Placement. (2014). Class of 2013
national summary report [Data file]. national summary report [Data file].
Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/1229_natlsummary07revised.pdf. Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NatlSummaryChartClassof2013.pdf.
AccessLex.org 34Detailed Data Sources (continued)
National Association for Law Placement. (2015). Class of 2014 National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2011). 2010 Statistics.
national summary report [Data file]. The Bar Examiner, 80(1): 16–19.
Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NationalSummaryChartforSchools2014Class.pdf. Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F156.
National Association for Law Placement. (2016). Class of 2015 National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2012). 2011 Statistics.
national summary report [Data file]. The Bar Examiner, 81(1): 16–19.
Retrieved from http://www.nalp.org/uploads/NatlSummaryClassof2015.pdf. http://www.ncbex.org/dmsdocument/146
National Association for Law Placement. (2017). Recent Graduates. National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2013). 2012 Statistics.
Retrieved from https://www.nalp.org/recentgraduates. The Bar Examiner, 82(1): 16–19.
http://www.ncbex.org/dmsdocument/145
National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2008). 2007 Statistics. National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2014). 2013 Statistics.
The Bar Examiner, 77(2): 16–19. The Bar Examiner, 83(1): 16–19.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F154. Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/dmsdocument/144.
National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2009). 2008 Statistics. National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2015). 2014 Statistics.
The Bar Examiner, 78(2): 16–19. The Bar Examiner, 84(1): 18–21.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F155. Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/dmsdocument/164.
National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2010). 2009 Statistics. National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2016). 2015 Statistics.
The Bar Examiner, 79(1): 16–19. The Bar Examiner, 85(1): 14-49.
Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F152. Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/assets/media_files/Bar-Examiner/articles/2016/BE-
March2016-2015Statistics.pdf.
AccessLex.org 35Detailed Data Sources (continued)
National Conference of Bar Examiners. (2017). 2016 Statistics. U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
The Bar Examiner, 86(1): 14-28. National Center for Education Statistics, 2015–16 National
Retrieved from http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F205. Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:16)
Computation by NCES PowerStats on 8/20/2018.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2006). 2006 American Community Survey U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
1-Year Estimates. Household Income, National [Data]. National Center for Education Statistics. (2017). IPEDS Data Center
Retrieved [2/12/2016] from www.ipums.org. Complete Data Files. 2016 Completions [Data file].
Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/datacenter/DataFiles.aspx.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
National Center for Education Statistics, 1993/2003 Baccalaureate National Center for Education Statistics. (2016). Digest of
and Beyond Longitudinal Study (B&B:93/03) Education Statistics, Table 322.20.
Computation by NCES PowerStats on 8/31/2015. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d16/tables/dt16_322.20.asp?current=yes.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 National (2017, October). Projections of Occupational
Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:04) Employment, 2016-26.
Computation by NCES PowerStats on 8/20/2018. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2017/article/occupational-
projections-charts.htm
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
National Center for Education Statistics, 2007–08 National
Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:08)
Computation by NCES PowerStats on 8/20/2018.
U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences,
National Center for Education Statistics, 2008–12 National
Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:12)
Computation by NCES PowerStats on 8/20/2018.
AccessLex.org 3610 North High Street, Suite 400, West Chester, PA 19380
440 First Street NW, Suite 550, Washington, D.C. 20001
AccessLex.org
© 2018 AccessLex Institute (11/18)You can also read
