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 2010 and 2011 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.
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 on March
21, 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:
25th Percentile: $60,000
Median: $83,500
75th Percentile: $160,000
Government:
25th Percentile: $50,000
Median: $53,500
75th Percentile: $57,500
Business and Industry:
25th Percentile: $61,250
Median: $74,500
75th Percentile: $93,750
Judicial Clerkships:
Median Salary: $68,000
Public Interest:
Median Salary: $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:
25th Percentile: $57,000
Median: $81,000
75th Percentile: $160,000
Government:
25th Percentile: $50,000
Median: $53,000
75th Percentile: $57,500
Business and Industry:
25th Percentile: $41,600
Median: $63,000
75th Percentile: $102,000
Judicial Clerkships:
Average Salary: $61,788
Public Interest:
Average Salary: $46,500