Updated April 2026 - Class of 2025 Data

Law School BigLaw Placement Rankings

Compare 195 ABA law schools by BigLaw placement and federal clerkship outcomes

*Not financial or career advice — this tool uses certain assumptions and is intended to paint a general picture, not predict individual outcomes.

195
Schools Analyzed
16%
Avg combined placement
14%
Avg BigLaw Rate
82.6%
Top school rate
💡

Key Insights

1

Elite School Dominance

Top-ranked schools average over 40% BigLaw placement, with elite schools placing 60-70% of graduates

2

Location Matters

Schools in major legal markets show stronger placement regardless of national rankings

3

Hidden Gems Exist

Regional schools can offer 20-30% combined placement at significantly lower costs

4

Clerkships Open Doors

Federal clerkships provide alternative pathways to elite careers with 10-20% placement at top schools

Complete Rankings

Interactive table of all 195 ABA law schools. Click headers to sort, search for schools, or filter by combined placement rate.

Showing 195 of 195 schools
#
School
Rank
Combined
BigLaw
Fed Clerk
Grads
DTI
1Duke University782.6%
190 of 230
70.9%
11.7%
2301.24
2University of Chicago282.4%
178 of 216
59.7%
22.7%
2161.84
3University of Pennsylvania475.0%
189 of 252
67.1%
7.9%
2521.48
4University of Virginia474.7%
230 of 308
64.0%
10.7%
3081.42
5Columbia University974.2%
340 of 458
70.1%
4.1%
4581.57
6Northwestern University973.1%
193 of 264
67.4%
5.7%
2641.28
7Harvard University670.3%
423 of 602
53.7%
16.6%
6021.93
8New York University767.6%
282 of 417
62.1%
5.5%
4171.84
9Stanford University164.7%
123 of 190
45.3%
19.5%
1902.02
10University of Michigan964.4%
221 of 343
54.5%
9.9%
3431.42
11University of California - Berkeley1663.6%
180 of 283
57.2%
6.4%
2831.75
12Cornell University1362.4%
123 of 197
56.9%
5.6%
1971.50
13University of Southern California2662.1%
141 of 227
58.6%
3.5%
2271.31
14Georgetown University1859.7%
420 of 703
54.9%
4.8%
7031.66
15University of California - Los Angeles1358.7%
195 of 332
54.8%
3.9%
3321.58
16Vanderbilt University1257.7%
97 of 168
46.4%
11.3%
1681.57
17Yale University254.8%
115 of 210
31.4%
23.3%
2101.89
18University of Texas1653.6%
165 of 308
39.3%
14.3%
3081.21
19Washington University in St Louis1351.6%
141 of 273
39.9%
11.7%
2731.11
20Fordham University4247.9%
201 of 420
44.8%
3.1%
4201.54
21Boston College2047.4%
101 of 213
45.1%
2.3%
2131.43
22University of Notre Dame2047.0%
77 of 164
30.5%
16.5%
1641.51
23Boston University2442.5%
91 of 214
41.1%
1.4%
2141.24
24Washington and Lee University3440.9%
45 of 110
31.8%
9.1%
1101.12
25Southern Methodist University4236.4%
82 of 225
33.8%
2.7%
2251.23
26Emory University4033.0%
74 of 224
29.5%
3.6%
2241.50
27University of Illinois4632.7%
50 of 153
28.1%
4.6%
1530.90
28Wake Forest University3031.0%
49 of 158
26.6%
4.4%
1581.29
29Brigham Young University2429.9%
38 of 127
22.8%
7.1%
1271.01
30Howard University11729.7%
46 of 155
29.0%
0.6%
1551.33
31University of North Carolina1829.0%
53 of 183
24.6%
4.4%
1831.42
32University of Georgia2628.8%
49 of 170
19.4%
9.4%
1701.30
33University of California - Irvine3428.4%
44 of 155
27.7%
0.6%
1551.81
34University of Houston5427.3%
65 of 238
25.6%
1.7%
2381.54
35George Washington University2626.7%
152 of 569
24.1%
2.6%
5691.79
36Tulane University7026.2%
56 of 214
19.2%
7.0%
2141.83
37St. John's University6226.1%
65 of 249
22.9%
3.2%
2491.59
38University of Florida3426.0%
56 of 215
21.4%
4.7%
2151.05
39William and Mary3425.1%
50 of 199
19.1%
6.0%
1991.94
40University of California - Davis5223.5%
48 of 204
22.1%
1.5%
2041.88
41University of California College of Law, San Francisco8522.9%
81 of 354
22.9%
0.0%
3541.83
42University of Iowa3222.8%
36 of 158
17.7%
5.1%
1581.46
43Texas A&M University2222.6%
28 of 124
14.5%
8.1%
1241.44
44University of Alabama4021.9%
32 of 146
9.6%
12.3%
1461.28
45Cardozo-Yeshiva University5921.1%
64 of 303
20.5%
0.7%
3031.70
46University of Miami7020.9%
80 of 383
20.6%
0.3%
3831.93
47Indiana University - Bloomington4920.7%
34 of 164
16.5%
4.3%
1641.25
48University of Minnesota2220.7%
46 of 222
17.6%
3.2%
2221.27
49Villanova University4920.7%
38 of 184
19.6%
1.1%
1841.30
50Brooklyn Law School10520.5%
73 of 356
18.3%
2.2%
3561.95
51Ohio State University3019.7%
31 of 157
18.5%
1.3%
1571.16
52Temple University4919.5%
38 of 195
16.9%
2.6%
1951.29
53University of Pittsburgh7718.9%
23 of 122
15.6%
3.3%
1221.25
54Northeastern University7718.8%
40 of 213
16.4%
2.3%
2131.50
55George Mason University3218.6%
31 of 167
10.8%
7.8%
1671.86
56University of Arizona7018.5%
24 of 130
13.8%
4.6%
1301.06
57Baylor University3418.2%
20 of 110
10.9%
7.3%
1101.13
58Loyola University Chicago7718.0%
47 of 261
17.2%
0.8%
2611.56
59Loyola Marymount University7017.3%
52 of 300
16.3%
1.0%
3002.18
60Santa Clara University15017.2%
34 of 198
16.7%
0.5%
1981.89
61University of Washington5216.9%
30 of 177
15.3%
1.7%
1772.06
62Georgia State University7716.9%
33 of 195
16.4%
0.5%
1951.55
63Florida International University7716.6%
26 of 157
15.9%
0.6%
1571.67
64Arizona State University4416.6%
48 of 290
14.5%
2.1%
2901.78
65University of Wisconsin2616.5%
42 of 255
12.9%
3.5%
2551.28
66University of San Diego5415.3%
36 of 236
13.1%
2.1%
2361.80
67Case Western Reserve University10014.8%
21 of 142
12.0%
2.8%
1421.40
68University of Colorado5414.6%
23 of 157
14.0%
0.6%
1571.48
69University of Tennessee5714.5%
18 of 124
9.7%
4.8%
1241.56
70St. Louis University9114.2%
24 of 169
14.2%
0.0%
1691.42
71University of San Francisco15614.0%
16 of 114
14.0%
0.0%
1141.89
72Chapman University11213.8%
18 of 130
10.0%
3.8%
1302.15
73Northern Kentucky University13113.5%
13 of 96
11.5%
2.1%
961.44
74University of Connecticut5813.4%
19 of 142
12.7%
0.7%
1421.87
75American University10813.3%
53 of 399
12.3%
1.0%
3992.17
76Pepperdine University4613.1%
24 of 183
12.0%
1.1%
1832.13
77Seton Hall University7013.0%
27 of 207
12.6%
0.5%
2071.82
78Chicago-Kent College of Law10512.9%
30 of 232
12.5%
0.4%
2321.36
79Florida State University3412.9%
17 of 132
9.1%
3.8%
1321.50
80Catholic University of America7012.4%
14 of 113
10.6%
1.8%
1131.86
81University of Maryland6212.0%
25 of 208
10.1%
1.9%
2082.04
82Rutgers University10012.0%
44 of 368
9.8%
2.2%
3682.08
83University of Kansas4611.9%
15 of 126
7.9%
4.0%
1261.17
84New York Law School11211.8%
37 of 313
10.9%
1.0%
3131.77
85University of Cincinnati8211.8%
15 of 127
11.0%
0.8%
1271.07
86Drexel University8211.3%
15 of 133
11.3%
0.0%
1331.66
87Hofstra University11711.0%
29 of 263
10.3%
0.8%
2632.10
88University of Nebraska6210.5%
15 of 143
7.7%
2.8%
1431.21
89Suffolk University12810.3%
37 of 358
9.2%
1.1%
3582.15
90University of Nevada - Las Vegas9110.3%
12 of 117
7.7%
2.6%
1171.79
91Stetson University9110.1%
29 of 287
8.7%
1.4%
2871.68
92University of Louisville12410.1%
12 of 119
9.2%
0.8%
1191.42
93University of South Carolina6210.0%
19 of 190
8.4%
1.6%
1901.54
94University of Mississippi1249.1%
16 of 176
3.4%
5.7%
1761.43
95West Virginia University1248.8%
8 of 91
5.5%
3.3%
911.85
96Syracuse University1008.7%
18 of 208
7.2%
1.4%
2081.93
97University of Denver918.4%
24 of 285
8.1%
0.4%
2851.93
98DePaul University1318.4%
13 of 155
8.4%
0.0%
1551.56
99Louisiana State University858.1%
16 of 198
3.5%
4.5%
1981.53
100Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law628.1%
18 of 223
6.3%
1.8%
2231.52
101Samford University1227.9%
11 of 139
5.8%
2.2%
1391.69
102University of Kentucky707.8%
9 of 115
1.7%
6.1%
1152.09
103University of Missouri - Kansas City1007.8%
10 of 128
6.3%
1.6%
1281.46
104Mississippi College1617.8%
8 of 103
0.0%
7.8%
1031.82
105University of Richmond627.7%
9 of 117
5.1%
2.6%
1171.67
106University of Dayton1127.6%
7 of 92
7.6%
0.0%
920.89
107University of Oklahoma627.6%
12 of 158
5.1%
2.5%
1581.77
108University of Arkansas - Fayetteville1007.6%
9 of 119
5.9%
1.7%
1191.57
109Duquesne University857.2%
11 of 152
5.3%
2.0%
1521.62
110Creighton University1447.1%
8 of 113
5.3%
1.8%
1131.41
111Nova Southeastern University1756.9%
14 of 202
6.9%
0.0%
2022.12
112Cleveland-Marshall College of Law1366.8%
9 of 132
6.8%
0.0%
1321.14
113Regent University916.8%
7 of 103
1.0%
5.8%
1032.03
114Belmont University856.8%
8 of 118
5.9%
0.8%
1182.03
115Michigan State University1086.6%
13 of 197
4.6%
2.0%
1971.15
116University of Missouri - Columbia596.4%
8 of 125
5.6%
0.8%
1251.17
117South Texas College of Law Houston1286.4%
19 of 299
5.4%
1.0%
2992.70
118Mercer University1086.3%
9 of 142
4.9%
1.4%
1421.50
119University of New Hampshire1366.3%
12 of 192
6.3%
0.0%
1921.76
120Indiana University - Indianapolis1246.1%
13 of 212
5.7%
0.5%
2121.68
121University of Montana905.9%
5 of 85
0.0%
5.9%
852.99
122University of North Texas Dallas College of Law1595.8%
7 of 120
4.2%
1.7%
1201.66
123Pace University1425.7%
15 of 261
5.4%
0.4%
2611.97
124Marquette University595.7%
10 of 175
5.1%
0.6%
1751.46
125University of North Dakota1565.5%
4 of 73
0.0%
5.5%
731.99
126Texas Tech University855.1%
7 of 136
4.4%
0.7%
1361.50
127University at Buffalo825.1%
7 of 137
4.4%
0.7%
1371.69
128Campbell University1315.0%
9 of 181
3.3%
1.7%
1812.01
129University of Oregon914.9%
7 of 142
2.8%
2.1%
1422.20
130California Western School of Law1754.9%
10 of 205
3.4%
1.5%
2052.40
131Wayne State University624.8%
6 of 124
4.8%
0.0%
1241.28
132University of the Pacific - McGeorge1524.7%
7 of 148
3.4%
1.4%
1482.17
133Albany Law School1204.7%
9 of 191
3.1%
1.6%
1911.63
134St. Thomas University - Florida1684.6%
9 of 194
3.6%
1.0%
1942.30
135Florida A&M University1754.6%
5 of 108
4.6%
0.0%
1082.11
136Southwestern Law School1614.5%
13 of 290
4.1%
0.3%
2902.45
137Seattle University1284.4%
9 of 204
4.4%
0.0%
2042.28
138St. Mary's University1504.3%
10 of 232
2.2%
2.2%
2321.94
139University of Utah444.3%
4 of 93
4.3%
0.0%
931.85
140Texas Southern University1754.3%
7 of 164
4.3%
0.0%
1641.50
141University of Memphis1404.3%
4 of 94
2.1%
2.1%
941.57
142University of Illinois Chicago School of Law1674.0%
11 of 274
3.6%
0.4%
2741.76
143Loyola University New Orleans1354.0%
7 of 177
2.8%
1.1%
1771.98
144Lewis and Clark College1123.9%
6 of 153
2.6%
1.3%
1532.19
145Barry University1753.8%
9 of 235
3.8%
0.0%
2351.89
146University of Akron1313.8%
5 of 133
3.0%
0.8%
1330.68
147University of South Dakota1223.7%
3 of 82
0.0%
3.7%
821.97
148University of Maine913.4%
3 of 88
1.1%
2.3%
881.78
149University of Wyoming1123.1%
2 of 64
0.0%
3.1%
641.67
150University of Hawaii913.1%
3 of 98
0.0%
3.1%
982.50
151Washburn University1083.0%
3 of 99
2.0%
1.0%
991.61
152University of Arkansas - Little Rock1403.0%
4 of 132
0.8%
2.3%
1321.78
153Gonzaga University1443.0%
6 of 198
2.5%
0.5%
1981.60
154Oklahoma City University1562.9%
4 of 138
0.7%
2.2%
1381.68
155University of St. Thomas - Minneapolis1052.7%
4 of 149
1.3%
1.3%
1491.79
156University of Detroit Mercy1422.6%
5 of 190
2.6%
0.0%
1901.70
157University of Baltimore1362.5%
5 of 204
2.0%
0.5%
2042.40
158Vermont Law School1542.3%
3 of 130
2.3%
0.0%
1301.91
159University of Idaho1482.2%
3 of 137
1.5%
0.7%
1372.29
160North Carolina Central University1752.2%
3 of 137
2.2%
0.0%
1371.92
161Western State College of Law at Westcliff University1752.2%
2 of 93
2.2%
0.0%
932.23
162John Marshall Law School - Atlanta1752.0%
2 of 101
2.0%
0.0%
1012.87
163New England School of Law1681.8%
6 of 327
1.5%
0.3%
3272.56
164Lincoln Memorial University1751.8%
2 of 110
1.8%
0.0%
1101.67
165University of Puerto Rico1751.6%
2 of 124
0.8%
0.8%
1241.05
166Elon Law School1441.5%
2 of 135
0.7%
0.7%
1351.91
167Widener University - Delaware1541.5%
3 of 206
1.5%
0.0%
2061.84
168Charleston School of Law1711.4%
3 of 210
1.0%
0.5%
2102.01
169Touro College1641.4%
2 of 145
1.4%
0.0%
1453.28
170Southern Illinois University1751.4%
1 of 74
1.4%
0.0%
740.96
171University of The District of Columbia1751.3%
1 of 80
1.3%
0.0%
801.95
172Ave Maria School of Law1641.2%
1 of 81
1.2%
0.0%
812.03
173Mitchell Hamline School of Law1521.2%
4 of 326
0.6%
0.6%
3261.47
174University of Toledo1491.1%
1 of 94
0.0%
1.1%
941.36
175CUNY1711.0%
2 of 192
1.0%
0.0%
1922.14
176University of Massachusetts Dartmouth1711.0%
1 of 98
1.0%
0.0%
982.40
177University of New Mexico1171.0%
1 of 100
0.0%
1.0%
1002.21
178Willamette University1681.0%
1 of 105
1.0%
0.0%
1052.24
179Drake University910.9%
1 of 114
0.0%
0.9%
1141.66
180Southern University Law Center1750.9%
2 of 231
0.9%
0.0%
2312.08
181Capital University1750.8%
1 of 121
0.8%
0.0%
1211.52
182Thomas M. Cooley Law School1750.7%
1 of 143
0.7%
0.0%
1432.45
183Roger Williams University1710.6%
1 of 169
0.6%
0.0%
1692.06
184University of Tulsa1200.0%
0 of 113
0.0%
0.0%
1131.68
185Quinnipiac University1360.0%
0 of 123
0.0%
0.0%
1232.25
186Liberty University1440.0%
0 of 100
0.0%
0.0%
1001.73
187Western New England University1590.0%
0 of 84
0.0%
0.0%
841.80
188Northern Illinois University1610.0%
0 of 107
0.0%
0.0%
1071.40
189Faulkner University1640.0%
0 of 88
0.0%
0.0%
882.14
190Appalachian School of Law1750.0%
0 of 43
0.0%
0.0%
432.76
191Inter American University1750.0%
0 of 197
0.0%
0.0%
1971.55
192Ohio Northern University1750.0%
0 of 49
0.0%
0.0%
491.55
193Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico1750.0%
0 of 147
0.0%
0.0%
1471.59
194Jacksonville UniversityN/A0.0%
0 of 13
0.0%
0.0%
131.27
195Wilmington University School of LawN/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A

National Employment Trends (2016–2025)

How the legal hiring market has shifted across all ABA-accredited schools.

See full trends →
  • BigLaw hiring grew from 11.4% to 18.2% (+6.8%)
  • Other private-law firms grew from 30.4% to 36.7% (+6.3%)
  • Public interest grew from 3.8% to 7.9% (+4.1%)
  • Unemployment fell from 9.9% to 5.8% (-4.1%)

Know your LSAT score and GPA? See which schools you're competitive for.

Our law school recommender matches you with schools using real ABA 509 data.

Find My Schools →

Understanding the Data

What is BigLaw?

BigLaw firms (501+ attorneys) offer the highest starting salaries in law, with first-year associates earning $225,000+ at top firms. While the national average BigLaw placement is around 14%, this varies dramatically by school tier.

Critical Factors to Consider

Cost vs. Outcomes: Calculate total 3-year cost against expected placement rates. A 25% combined placement rate at $150K may beat 30% at $300K.

Geographic Goals: Regional schools often dominate their local markets. Know where you want to practice.

Risk Tolerance: Higher-ranked schools provide better outcomes across all class ranks, not just top performers.

Class Rank Reality: These are school-wide stats. Individual outcomes depend heavily on your performance, networking, and interview skills.

Finding Hidden Gems

Look for schools that combine strong regional placement with generous scholarships. Target schools that:

  • • Place 15-25% in BigLaw despite ranking outside Top 25
  • • Offer scholarships reducing total cost by 50%+
  • • Dominate your target legal market
  • • Show consistent multi-year outcomes, not one-time spikes

Common Questions

What percentage of graduates get BigLaw jobs?▼
Nationally, about 14% of law graduates secure BigLaw positions at firms with 501+ attorneys. This varies dramatically by school tier: T14 schools average 52% BigLaw placement (ranging from 31% to 72%), while regional schools typically place 5-15%, and lower-ranked schools often under 5%. Elite schools like Cornell, Duke, Columbia, and Penn consistently place 60%+ of graduates in BigLaw.
Which schools have the best BigLaw placement?▼
Cornell (72%), Duke (68%), Columbia (65%), Northwestern (64%), and Penn (64%) lead BigLaw placement among T14 schools. UVA, USC, Georgetown, NYU, and Berkeley also place 52-60% in BigLaw (501+ attorneys). Notably, Yale and Stanford prioritize federal clerkships over BigLaw, with clerkship rates of 26% and 18% respectively, resulting in strong combined placement rates despite lower BigLaw percentages.
Why are federal clerkships valuable?▼
Federal clerks work directly with judges, gaining invaluable experience in legal analysis and decision-making. Clerkships often lead to $50K-$100K+ signing bonuses at BigLaw firms, plus strong credentials for government, appellate work, or academia. Schools with 10%+ clerkship rates demonstrate exceptional quality.
What does the Combined column measure?▼
Combined counts full time, long term jobs at firms of 501 or more attorneys plus full time, long term federal clerkships, over every graduate in the class. It is the BigLaw and Fed Clerk columns added together. A school placing 45% in those firms and 15% in federal clerkships has a 60% combined rate. Every other employed graduate falls outside the figure: the rest of private practice, government, public interest, business, academia and clerkships in other courts. That is not a judgment about the work. The two rates add up to the school's employment rate, not to 100 percent, because graduates in further study, with deferred starts, unemployed or of unknown status had no job at all.
Should I choose higher rank with debt or scholarship at lower rank?▼
If you're committed to BigLaw and risk-tolerant, a T14 school may justify the debt (52% average BigLaw placement at 501+ firms vs. 5-15% at mid-tier schools). For public interest, government, or regional practice, scholarships at lower-ranked schools often provide better outcomes. Consider worst-case: graduating bottom-third. At top-ranked schools, you'll likely secure employment; elsewhere, outcomes may be limited. Rule of thumb: don't borrow more than your expected first-year salary ($225,000 for BigLaw, but much lower for other paths).

Methodology

Data Source

All data from ABA Required Disclosures for Class of 2025, published April 2026. Employment measured 10 months post-graduation (March 15, 2026) under ABA Standard 509.

BigLaw %

Graduates at firms with 501+ attorneys in full-time, long-term positions

(501+ FTLT) / Total Grads × 100

Clerkship %

Federal judicial clerkships (district, circuit, SCOTUS) in FTLT positions

Federal Clerks FTLT / Total Grads × 100

Combined

Sum of BigLaw and Clerkship percentages

BigLaw % + Clerkship %

What's NOT Included

State/local clerkships • Firms under 501 attorneys • Part-time positions • Business/industry jobs • Government (except federal clerkships)

Unlock top outcomes with a high LSAT score.

Start your journey with comprehensive prep guides and practice tests

Start LSAT Prep

HFL LSAT Advisor

Online

Hi! I'm HFL's LSAT advisor.

Tell me your score and goal and I'll point you to the right plan — or ask me anything.