40 Law Schools Where Grads Leave With Law Jobs

Investigate job prospects for law school graduates.

Before investing in a law degree, it's important to identify law schools where graduates have high employment rates. Experts say schools where the vast majority of students graduated with lasting full-time legal jobs are a safer bet than those where graduates often struggle to find law-related employment. Here are the 40 law schools with the highest percentage of 2019 graduates who, upon graduation, had full-time law-related jobs lasting at least a year which either required bar passage or where a J.D. degree was an advantage. The employment rates for these schools exclude graduates with university- or law school-funded positions. The percentages listed on the following slides are rounded figures.

University of Iowa

U.S. News law school rank: 29 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 67.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 67.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.7%

Learn more about the University of Iowa College of Law.

University of New Mexico

U.S. News law school rank: 102 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 67.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 66.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.7%

Learn more about the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Rutgers University (NJ)

U.S. News law school rank: 91 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 68.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 65.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2.5%

Learn more about Rutgers Law School.

Southern Methodist University (Dedman) (TX)

U.S. News law school rank: 52

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 68.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 63.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4.7%

Learn more about the Dedman School of Law.

University of Utah (Quinney)

U.S. News law school rank: 43 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 69.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 61.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 8.2%

Learn more about the S.J. Quinney College of Law.

Saint Louis University (MO)

U.S. News law school rank: 91 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 70.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 64.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 6.1%

Learn more about the Saint Louis University School of Law.

University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign

U.S. News law school rank: 29 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 72.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 67.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4.9%

Learn more about the University of Illinois College of Law.

Wake Forest University (NC)

U.S. News law school rank: 41 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 72.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 70.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.9%

Learn more about the Wake Forest University School of Law.

Fordham University (NY)

U.S. News law school rank: 35 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 72.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 67.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 5%

Learn more about the Fordham University School of Law.

University of Texas--Austin

U.S. News law school rank: 16 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 73.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 72.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.7%

Learn more about UT--Austin School of Law.

University of Wisconsin--Madison

U.S. News law school rank: 29 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 73.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 69.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 3.9%

Learn more about the UW--Madison Law School.

Georgetown University (DC)

U.S. News law school rank: 15

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 74.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 72%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2.7%

Learn more about Georgetown Law Center.

University of Florida (Levin)

U.S. News law school rank: 21

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 74.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 71.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 3.3%

Learn more about UF's Levin College of Law.

University of Alabama

U.S. News law school rank: 25 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 75.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 70.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4.5%

Learn more about the University of Alabama School of Law.

Boston University

U.S. News law school rank: 20

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 75.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 73.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2%

Learn more about Boston University School of Law.

Washington and Lee University (VA)

U.S. News law school rank: 35 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 75.5%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 70%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 5.5%

Learn more about the Washington and Lee University School of Law.

University of Notre Dame (IN)

U.S. News law school rank: 22 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 75.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 74.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.6%

Learn more about the Notre Dame Law School.

Brigham Young University (Clark) (UT)

U.S. News law school rank: 29 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 76%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 65.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 10.1%

Learn more about Brigham Young's J. Reuben Clark Law School.

Arizona State University (O'Connor)

U.S. News law school rank: 25 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 77.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 68.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 9.2%

Learn more about ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law.

University of California--Los Angeles

U.S. News law school rank: 14

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 78%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 74.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 3.2%

Learn more about the UCLA School of Law.

University of Southern California (Gould)

U.S. News law school rank: 19

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 78.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 74.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4%

Learn more about the USC Gould School of Law.

Villanova University (Widger) (PA)

U.S. News law school rank: 53 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 79.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 73.5%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 5.7%

Learn more about Villanova's Charles Widger School of Law.

University of Georgia

U.S. News law school rank: 27 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 79.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 77.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.7%

Learn more about University of Georgia School of Law.

University of Minnesota

U.S. News law school rank: 22 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 81%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 77.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 3.2%

Learn more about the University of Minnesota Law School.

Vanderbilt University (TN)

U.S. News law school rank: 16 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 82.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 79.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2.4%

Learn more about Vanderbilt Law School.

Seton Hall University (NJ)

U.S. News law school rank: 70 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 82.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 81.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.4%

Learn more about the Seton Hall University School of Law.

Yale University (CT)

U.S. News law school rank: 1

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 83.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 79.7%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4.1%

Learn more about Yale Law School.

Washington University in St. Louis

U.S. News law school rank: 16 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 85.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 83.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2.1%

Learn more about the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.

Stanford University (CA)

U.S. News law school rank: 2

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 87.4%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 84.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 3.3%

Learn more about Stanford Law School.

University of California--Berkeley

U.S. News law school rank: 9

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 87.5%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 86.9%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.6%

Learn more about the UC--Berkeley School of Law.

Cornell University (NY)

U.S. News law school rank: 13

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 87.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 86.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1%

Learn more about Cornell Law School.

University of Michigan--Ann Arbor

U.S. News law school rank: 10 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 87.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 87.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.3%

Learn more about the University of Michigan--Ann Arbor Law School.

New York University

U.S. News law school rank: 6 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 88%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 87.2%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.8%

Learn more about NYU Law School.

Duke University (NC)

U.S. News law school rank: 10 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 91%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 89.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.4%

Learn more about the Duke University School of Law.

Harvard University (MA)

U.S. News law school rank: 3

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 91.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 87.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 4.2%

Learn more about Harvard Law School.

University of Pennsylvania (Carey)

U.S. News law school rank: 6 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 91.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 89.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 2%

Learn more about Penn's Carey Law School.

University of Virginia

U.S. News law school rank: 8

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 92.3%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 91.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.7%

Learn more about the University of Virginia School of Law.

Northwestern University (Pritzker) (IL)

U.S. News law school rank: 12

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 92.5%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 84.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 7.9%

Learn more about Northwestern's Pritzker School of Law.

University of Chicago

U.S. News law school rank: 4 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 95.1%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 93.6%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 1.5%

Learn more about the University of Chicago Law School.

Columbia University (NY)

U.S. News law school rank: 4 (tie)

2019 graduates employed at graduation in a full-time job that lasted at least a year for which bar passage was required or a J.D. degree was an advantage: 97.5%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and required bar passage: 96.8%

2019 graduates who left school with a full-time job that lasted at least a year and where a J.D. was an advantage: 0.7%

Learn more about Columbia Law School.

Prepare for the legal job market.

Aspiring lawyers who want to learn more about recent law school graduates' job prospects can access the complete 2022 U.S. News Best Law Schools rankings. For more guidance on finding a law school that matches your career goals, follow U.S. News Education on Facebook and Twitter.

Law schools where 2019 grads had high graduation day employment rates:

-- Columbia University: 97.5%

-- University of Chicago: 95.1%

-- Northwestern University (Pritzker): 92.5%

-- University of Virginia: 92.3%

-- University of Pennsylvania (Carey): 91.6%

-- Harvard University: 91.3%

-- Duke University: 91%

-- New York University: 88%

-- Cornell University: 87.6%

-- University of Michigan--Ann Arbor: 87.6%

-- University of California--Berkeley: 87.5%

-- Stanford University: 87.4%

-- Washington University in St. Louis: 85.9%

-- Yale University: 83.8%

-- Seton Hall University: 82.8%

-- Vanderbilt University: 82.3%

-- University of Minnesota: 81%

-- University of Georgia: 79.6%

-- Villanova University (Widger): 79.2%

-- University of Southern California (Gould): 78.1%

-- University of California--Los Angeles: 78%

-- Arizona State University (O'Connor): 77.3%

-- Brigham Young University (Clark): 76%

-- University of Notre Dame: 75.7%

-- Washington and Lee University: 75.5%

-- Boston University: 75.4%

-- University of Alabama: 75.2%

-- University of Florida (Levin): 74.9%

-- Georgetown University: 74.7%

-- University of Wisconsin--Madison: 73.6%

-- University of Texas--Austin: 73.4%

-- Fordham University: 72.3%

-- University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign: 72.1%

-- Wake Forest University: 72.1%

-- Saint Louis University: 70.7%

-- University of Utah (Quinney): 69.4%

-- Southern Methodist University (Dedman): 68.3%

-- Rutgers University: 68.2%

-- University of Iowa: 67.8%

-- University of New Mexico: 67.8%