At St. John’s, we believe it is important for applicants to have
detailed information about placement rates. For that reason, the
information below lists employment data for the Classes of 2012, 2011,
and 2010 and in several
disaggregated categories. We also provide below copies of placement
data submitted to the ABA and NALP—The Association for Legal Career
Professionals. Readers should keep in mind that the ABA and NALP
use different definitions for various categories; this accounts for
differences between the various reports. This webpage was
updated on April 5, 2013.
Class of
2012
This data was collected and reported in March 2013 and uses the
ABA’s definitions for the various categories, except where noted.
Overall, 275 of the 281 members of the Class of 2012 (97.9%)
reported their employment status to the Career Development Office.
As of February 15, 2013, 220 of these graduates were employed, 2
were not seeking employment, 45 were still seeking employment, 3
were pursuing a graduate degree full-time, and 5 were unemployed
but had deferred start dates with employers. The placement rate as
of February 15, 2013, for all graduates from the Class of 2012
(220/281) was 78.3%. When full-time degree seekers and graduates
not seeking employment are removed from the denominator, and
graduates with deferred start dates are added to the numerator, our
placement rate for the Class of 2012 (225/276) was 81.5%.
ABA Placement Questionnaire - data submitted on placement for Class
of 2012 (March 15, 2013; updated April 5, 2013)
NALP - data submitted on placement for Class of 2012 (report
generated by Symplicity, April 5, 2013; report from NALP expected
to be received and posted in June 2013)
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: 123/220 (55.9%)
- Government: 30/220 (13.6%)
- Business and Industry: 44/220 (20.0%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 7/220 (3.2%)
- Public Interest: 7/220 (3.2%)
- Academic: 6/220 (2.7%)
- Unknown: 3/220 (1.4%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law
Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is
as follows:
- Solo: 0/123 (0.0%)
- 2 to 10 Attorneys: 59/123 (48.0%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 14/123 (11.4%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 10/123 (8.1%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 11/123 (8.9%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 6/123 (4.9%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 4/123 (3.3%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 17/123 (13.8%)
- Graduates reported working at law firm of undisclosed size:
2/123 (1.6%)
Employment Breakdown
- Employed Full-Time: 185/220 (84.1%)
- Employed Part-Time: 35/220 (15.9%)
Terms of Employment
- Long-Term Basis: 205/220 (93.2%)
- Short-Term Basis: 15/220 (6.8%)
Bar Admission
- Bar admission required/anticipated (includes judicial clerks):
151/220 (68.6%)
- JD advantage (“A position in this category is one for which the
employer sought an individual with a JD, and perhaps even required
a JD, or for which the JD provided a demonstrable advantage in
obtaining or performing the job, but itself does not require bar
passage, an active law license, or involve practicing law.”):
53/220 (24.1%)
- Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that
requires professional skills or training but for which a JD 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
JD was not demonstrably advantageous in obtaining the position or
in performing the duties of the position.”): 6/220 (2.7%)
- Non-Professional Position (“A position in this category is one
that does not require any special professional skills or
training.”): 6/220 (2.7%)
- Unknown Category: 4/220 (1.8%)
Employment Funding
- Funded by Employer: 211
- Funded by St. John’s - Short Term: 9
Salary Data
Salary data is based on NALP definitions. 118 of 184
graduates employed full-time (64.1%) reported their salaries to the
Career Development Office. Below is detailed salary data reported
for full-time employment in major categories:
Law Firms:
(65 out of 122 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $52,000
Median: $60,000
75th Percentile: $67,525
Government: (25 out of 30 graduates provided
salary data)
25th Percentile: $50,000
Median: $56,500
75th Percentile: $60,000
Business and Industry:
(21 out of 44
graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $52,500
Median: $69,000
75th Percentile: $88,750
Judicial Clerkships:
(6 out of 7
graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $57,852
Median: $60,000
75th Percentile: $67,525
Public Interest:
(1 out of 7 graduates
provided salary data)
Median: $60,000
Class of 2011
This data was collected and reported in March 2012 as part of the
new ABA reporting cycle and uses the ABA’s definitions for the
various categories, except where noted. The data was updated
and finalized in May 2012.
Overall, 272 of the 276 members of the Class of 2011 (98.6%)
reported their employment status to the Career Development Office.
As of February 15, 2012, 234 of these graduates were employed, 4
were not seeking employment, 24 were still seeking employment, 8
were pursuing a graduate degree full-time, and 2 were unemployed
but had deferred start dates with employers. The placement rate as
of February 15, 2012, for all graduates from the Class of 2011
(234/276) was 84.8%. When full-time degree seekers and graduates
not seeking employment are removed from the denominator, and
graduates with deferred start dates are added to the numerator and
denominator, our placement rate for the Class of 2011 (236/266) was
88.7%.
ABA Placement Questionnaire - data submitted on placement for Class
of 2011 (March 15, 2012)
NALP - data submitted on placement for Class of 2011 (report
generated by NALP, June 2012)
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: 116/234 (49.6%)
- Government: 32/234 (13.7%)
- Business and Industry: 42/234 (17.9%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 9/234 (3.8%)
- Public Interest: 23/234 (9.8%)
- Academic: 10/234 (4.3%)
- Unknown: 2/234 (0.9%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law
Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is
as follows:
- Solo: 4/116 (3.4%)
- 2 to 10 Attorneys: 42/116 (36.2%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 15/116 (12.9%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 14/116 (12.1%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 16/116 (13.8%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 3/116 (2.6%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 3/116 (2.6%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 17/116 (14.7%)
- Graduates reported working at law firm of undisclosed size:
2/116 (1.7%)
Employment Breakdown
- Employed Full-Time: 168/234 (71.8%)
- Employed Part-Time: 60/234 (25.6%)
- Unknown: 6/234 (2.6%)
Terms of Employment
- Long-Term Basis: 184/234 (78.6%)
- Short-Term Basis: 44/234 (18.8%)
- Unknown: 6/234 (2.6%)
Bar Admission
- Bar admission required/anticipated (includes judicial clerks):
164/234 (70.1%)
- JD advantage (“A position in this category is one for which the
employer sought an individual with a JD, and perhaps even required
a JD, or for which the JD provided a demonstrable advantage in
obtaining or performing the job, but itself does not require bar
passage, an active law license, or involve practicing law.”):
53/234 (22.6%)
- Professional Position (“A position in this category is one that
requires professional skills or training but for which a JD 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
JD was not demonstrably advantageous in obtaining the position or
in performing the duties of the position.”): 7/234 (3.0%)
- Non-Professional Position (“A position in this category is one
that does not require any special professional skills or
training.”): 4/234 (1.7%)
- Unknown Category: 6/234 (2.6%)
Employment Funding
- Funded by Employer: 203
- Funded by St. John’s - Short Term: 31
Salary Data
Salary data is based on NALP definitions. 91 of 168 graduates
employed full-time (54.2%) reported their salaries to the Career
Development Office. Below is detailed salary data reported for
full-time employment in major categories:
Law Firms:
(52 out of 115 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $60,000
Median: $83,500
75th Percentile: $160,000
Government: (17 out of 32 graduates provided salary
data)
25th Percentile: $50,000
Median: $53,500
75th Percentile: $57,500
Business and Industry:
(12 out of 43
graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $62,500
Median: $74,500
75th Percentile: $87,500
Judicial Clerkships:
(5 out of 9 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $64,000
Median: $68,000
75th Percentile: $75,000
Public Interest:
(5 out of 23 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $55,000
Median: $55,000
75th Percentile: $55,000
Class of 2010
This data was finalized in October 2011 as part of the reporting
cycle that existed at the time.
Overall, 285 of the 292 members of the Class of 2010 (97.6%)
reported their employment status to the Career Development Office.
As of February 15, 2011, 256 of these graduates were employed, one
was not seeking employment, and 28 were still seeking employment.
The placement rate as of February 15, 2011, for all graduates from
the Class of 2010 (256/292) was 87.7%.
ABA Annual Questionnaire - data submitted on placement for Class of
2010
NALP - data submitted on placement for Class of 2010 (updated
10/31/2011)
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: 137/256 (53.5%)
- Government: 38/256 (14.8%)
- Military: 0/256 (0.0%)
- Business and Industry: 47/256 (18.4%)
- Judicial Clerkships: 7/256 (2.7%)
- Public Interest: 7/256 (2.7%)
- Academic: 17/256 (6.6%)
- Unknown: 3/256 (1.2%)
Employment Distribution by Size of Law
Firms
For graduates working at law firms, the breakdown of firm size is
as follows:
- Self Employed: 2/137 (1.5%)
- Two to 10 Attorneys: 61/137 (44.5%)
- 11 to 25 Attorneys: 11/137 (8.0%)
- 26 to 50 Attorneys: 7/137(5.0%)
- 51 to 100 Attorneys: 13/137 (9.5%)
- 101 to 250 Attorneys: 11/137 (8.0%)
- 251 to 500 Attorneys: 6/137 (4.4%)
- 501+ Attorneys: 24/137 (17.5%)
- Graduates reported working at law firm of undisclosed size:
2/137 (1.5%)
Employment Breakdown
Employed Full-Time: 216/256 (84.4%)
Employed Part-Time: 38/256 (14.8%)
Unknown: 2/256 (0.8%)
Terms of Employment
Long-Term Basis: 219/256 (85.5%)
Short-Term Basis: 34/256 (13.3%)
Unknown: 3/256 (1.2%)
Bar Admission
Bar Admission Required/Anticipated for the Position (includes
Judicial Clerks): 183/256 (71.5%)
JD is preferred for this position or would enhance position (e.g.,
management consulting, business, or law school administration):
53/256 (20.7%)
Professional Other: 11/256 (4.3%)
Non-Professional Other: 7/256 (2.7%)
Unknown: 2/256 (0.8%)
Employment Funding
Funded by Employer: 238
Funded by St. John’s: 14
Funded by Outside Source: 4
Salary Data
One-hundred and thirty-eight (138) of 256 employed graduates
(53.5%) reported their salaries to the Career Development Office.
Below is detailed salary data reported for full-time employment in
major categories:
Law Firms: (84 of 137 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $57,000
Median: $81,000
75th Percentile: $160,000
Government: (33 of 38 graduates
provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $50,000
Median: $53,000
75th Percentile: $57,500
Business and Industry: (14 of 47
graduates provided salary data)
25th Percentile: $41,600
Median: $63,000
75th Percentile: $102,000
Judicial Clerkships: (3 of 7
graduates provided salary data)
Average: $61,788
Public Interest: (2 of 7 graduates
provided salary data)
Average: $46,500