New employment findings from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) reveal that despite a record shattering employment market for Class of 2022 law graduates ― including the highest employment rate in 35 years ― disparities in employment outcomes by race/ethnicity and level of parental education persist, with graduates of color and first-generation college students experiencing lower levels of employment in bar admission required/anticipated positions.
Graduates of color were also less likely to be employed in judicial clerkships as compared to white graduates, and employment rates within private practice continued to be lower for Black, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and other Pacific Islander graduates. Likewise, first-generation college students were employed in judicial clerkships and private practice at lower rates than their continuing-generation college and JD student peers.
- ABA Journal, Race, Ethnicity, Parents’ Education Level Produce Differing Job Outcomes for Class of 2022 Law Grads
- Canadian Lawyer, Legal Job Market Remains Unequal for U.S. Graduates of Colour, First-Gen College Students: NALP Report
- Law360, As Legal Jobs Surge, Law Grads Of Color Lag In Employment
- Law.com, NALP: Highest Employment Rate in 35 Years for Law School Grads
- NALP, Class of 2022 Buying Power Index
