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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.
Key Insights
Elite School Dominance
Top-ranked schools average over 40% BigLaw placement, with elite schools placing 60-70% of graduates
Location Matters
Schools in major legal markets show stronger placement regardless of national rankings
Hidden Gems Exist
Regional schools can offer 20-30% combined placement at significantly lower costs
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.
| # | School | Rank | Combined | BigLaw | Fed Clerk | Grads | DTI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duke University | 7 | 82.6% 190 of 230 | 70.9% | 11.7% | 230 | 1.24 |
| 2 | University of Chicago | 2 | 82.4% 178 of 216 | 59.7% | 22.7% | 216 | 1.84 |
| 3 | University of Pennsylvania | 4 | 75.0% 189 of 252 | 67.1% | 7.9% | 252 | 1.48 |
| 4 | University of Virginia | 4 | 74.7% 230 of 308 | 64.0% | 10.7% | 308 | 1.42 |
| 5 | Columbia University | 9 | 74.2% 340 of 458 | 70.1% | 4.1% | 458 | 1.57 |
| 6 | Northwestern University | 9 | 73.1% 193 of 264 | 67.4% | 5.7% | 264 | 1.28 |
| 7 | Harvard University | 6 | 70.3% 423 of 602 | 53.7% | 16.6% | 602 | 1.93 |
| 8 | New York University | 7 | 67.6% 282 of 417 | 62.1% | 5.5% | 417 | 1.84 |
| 9 | Stanford University | 1 | 64.7% 123 of 190 | 45.3% | 19.5% | 190 | 2.02 |
| 10 | University of Michigan | 9 | 64.4% 221 of 343 | 54.5% | 9.9% | 343 | 1.42 |
| 11 | University of California - Berkeley | 16 | 63.6% 180 of 283 | 57.2% | 6.4% | 283 | 1.75 |
| 12 | Cornell University | 13 | 62.4% 123 of 197 | 56.9% | 5.6% | 197 | 1.50 |
| 13 | University of Southern California | 26 | 62.1% 141 of 227 | 58.6% | 3.5% | 227 | 1.31 |
| 14 | Georgetown University | 18 | 59.7% 420 of 703 | 54.9% | 4.8% | 703 | 1.66 |
| 15 | University of California - Los Angeles | 13 | 58.7% 195 of 332 | 54.8% | 3.9% | 332 | 1.58 |
| 16 | Vanderbilt University | 12 | 57.7% 97 of 168 | 46.4% | 11.3% | 168 | 1.57 |
| 17 | Yale University | 2 | 54.8% 115 of 210 | 31.4% | 23.3% | 210 | 1.89 |
| 18 | University of Texas | 16 | 53.6% 165 of 308 | 39.3% | 14.3% | 308 | 1.21 |
| 19 | Washington University in St Louis | 13 | 51.6% 141 of 273 | 39.9% | 11.7% | 273 | 1.11 |
| 20 | Fordham University | 42 | 47.9% 201 of 420 | 44.8% | 3.1% | 420 | 1.54 |
| 21 | Boston College | 20 | 47.4% 101 of 213 | 45.1% | 2.3% | 213 | 1.43 |
| 22 | University of Notre Dame | 20 | 47.0% 77 of 164 | 30.5% | 16.5% | 164 | 1.51 |
| 23 | Boston University | 24 | 42.5% 91 of 214 | 41.1% | 1.4% | 214 | 1.24 |
| 24 | Washington and Lee University | 34 | 40.9% 45 of 110 | 31.8% | 9.1% | 110 | 1.12 |
| 25 | Southern Methodist University | 42 | 36.4% 82 of 225 | 33.8% | 2.7% | 225 | 1.23 |
| 26 | Emory University | 40 | 33.0% 74 of 224 | 29.5% | 3.6% | 224 | 1.50 |
| 27 | University of Illinois | 46 | 32.7% 50 of 153 | 28.1% | 4.6% | 153 | 0.90 |
| 28 | Wake Forest University | 30 | 31.0% 49 of 158 | 26.6% | 4.4% | 158 | 1.29 |
| 29 | Brigham Young University | 24 | 29.9% 38 of 127 | 22.8% | 7.1% | 127 | 1.01 |
| 30 | Howard University | 117 | 29.7% 46 of 155 | 29.0% | 0.6% | 155 | 1.33 |
| 31 | University of North Carolina | 18 | 29.0% 53 of 183 | 24.6% | 4.4% | 183 | 1.42 |
| 32 | University of Georgia | 26 | 28.8% 49 of 170 | 19.4% | 9.4% | 170 | 1.30 |
| 33 | University of California - Irvine | 34 | 28.4% 44 of 155 | 27.7% | 0.6% | 155 | 1.81 |
| 34 | University of Houston | 54 | 27.3% 65 of 238 | 25.6% | 1.7% | 238 | 1.54 |
| 35 | George Washington University | 26 | 26.7% 152 of 569 | 24.1% | 2.6% | 569 | 1.79 |
| 36 | Tulane University | 70 | 26.2% 56 of 214 | 19.2% | 7.0% | 214 | 1.83 |
| 37 | St. John's University | 62 | 26.1% 65 of 249 | 22.9% | 3.2% | 249 | 1.59 |
| 38 | University of Florida | 34 | 26.0% 56 of 215 | 21.4% | 4.7% | 215 | 1.05 |
| 39 | William and Mary | 34 | 25.1% 50 of 199 | 19.1% | 6.0% | 199 | 1.94 |
| 40 | University of California - Davis | 52 | 23.5% 48 of 204 | 22.1% | 1.5% | 204 | 1.88 |
| 41 | University of California College of Law, San Francisco | 85 | 22.9% 81 of 354 | 22.9% | 0.0% | 354 | 1.83 |
| 42 | University of Iowa | 32 | 22.8% 36 of 158 | 17.7% | 5.1% | 158 | 1.46 |
| 43 | Texas A&M University | 22 | 22.6% 28 of 124 | 14.5% | 8.1% | 124 | 1.44 |
| 44 | University of Alabama | 40 | 21.9% 32 of 146 | 9.6% | 12.3% | 146 | 1.28 |
| 45 | Cardozo-Yeshiva University | 59 | 21.1% 64 of 303 | 20.5% | 0.7% | 303 | 1.70 |
| 46 | University of Miami | 70 | 20.9% 80 of 383 | 20.6% | 0.3% | 383 | 1.93 |
| 47 | Indiana University - Bloomington | 49 | 20.7% 34 of 164 | 16.5% | 4.3% | 164 | 1.25 |
| 48 | University of Minnesota | 22 | 20.7% 46 of 222 | 17.6% | 3.2% | 222 | 1.27 |
| 49 | Villanova University | 49 | 20.7% 38 of 184 | 19.6% | 1.1% | 184 | 1.30 |
| 50 | Brooklyn Law School | 105 | 20.5% 73 of 356 | 18.3% | 2.2% | 356 | 1.95 |
| 51 | Ohio State University | 30 | 19.7% 31 of 157 | 18.5% | 1.3% | 157 | 1.16 |
| 52 | Temple University | 49 | 19.5% 38 of 195 | 16.9% | 2.6% | 195 | 1.29 |
| 53 | University of Pittsburgh | 77 | 18.9% 23 of 122 | 15.6% | 3.3% | 122 | 1.25 |
| 54 | Northeastern University | 77 | 18.8% 40 of 213 | 16.4% | 2.3% | 213 | 1.50 |
| 55 | George Mason University | 32 | 18.6% 31 of 167 | 10.8% | 7.8% | 167 | 1.86 |
| 56 | University of Arizona | 70 | 18.5% 24 of 130 | 13.8% | 4.6% | 130 | 1.06 |
| 57 | Baylor University | 34 | 18.2% 20 of 110 | 10.9% | 7.3% | 110 | 1.13 |
| 58 | Loyola University Chicago | 77 | 18.0% 47 of 261 | 17.2% | 0.8% | 261 | 1.56 |
| 59 | Loyola Marymount University | 70 | 17.3% 52 of 300 | 16.3% | 1.0% | 300 | 2.18 |
| 60 | Santa Clara University | 150 | 17.2% 34 of 198 | 16.7% | 0.5% | 198 | 1.89 |
| 61 | University of Washington | 52 | 16.9% 30 of 177 | 15.3% | 1.7% | 177 | 2.06 |
| 62 | Georgia State University | 77 | 16.9% 33 of 195 | 16.4% | 0.5% | 195 | 1.55 |
| 63 | Florida International University | 77 | 16.6% 26 of 157 | 15.9% | 0.6% | 157 | 1.67 |
| 64 | Arizona State University | 44 | 16.6% 48 of 290 | 14.5% | 2.1% | 290 | 1.78 |
| 65 | University of Wisconsin | 26 | 16.5% 42 of 255 | 12.9% | 3.5% | 255 | 1.28 |
| 66 | University of San Diego | 54 | 15.3% 36 of 236 | 13.1% | 2.1% | 236 | 1.80 |
| 67 | Case Western Reserve University | 100 | 14.8% 21 of 142 | 12.0% | 2.8% | 142 | 1.40 |
| 68 | University of Colorado | 54 | 14.6% 23 of 157 | 14.0% | 0.6% | 157 | 1.48 |
| 69 | University of Tennessee | 57 | 14.5% 18 of 124 | 9.7% | 4.8% | 124 | 1.56 |
| 70 | St. Louis University | 91 | 14.2% 24 of 169 | 14.2% | 0.0% | 169 | 1.42 |
| 71 | University of San Francisco | 156 | 14.0% 16 of 114 | 14.0% | 0.0% | 114 | 1.89 |
| 72 | Chapman University | 112 | 13.8% 18 of 130 | 10.0% | 3.8% | 130 | 2.15 |
| 73 | Northern Kentucky University | 131 | 13.5% 13 of 96 | 11.5% | 2.1% | 96 | 1.44 |
| 74 | University of Connecticut | 58 | 13.4% 19 of 142 | 12.7% | 0.7% | 142 | 1.87 |
| 75 | American University | 108 | 13.3% 53 of 399 | 12.3% | 1.0% | 399 | 2.17 |
| 76 | Pepperdine University | 46 | 13.1% 24 of 183 | 12.0% | 1.1% | 183 | 2.13 |
| 77 | Seton Hall University | 70 | 13.0% 27 of 207 | 12.6% | 0.5% | 207 | 1.82 |
| 78 | Chicago-Kent College of Law | 105 | 12.9% 30 of 232 | 12.5% | 0.4% | 232 | 1.36 |
| 79 | Florida State University | 34 | 12.9% 17 of 132 | 9.1% | 3.8% | 132 | 1.50 |
| 80 | Catholic University of America | 70 | 12.4% 14 of 113 | 10.6% | 1.8% | 113 | 1.86 |
| 81 | University of Maryland | 62 | 12.0% 25 of 208 | 10.1% | 1.9% | 208 | 2.04 |
| 82 | Rutgers University | 100 | 12.0% 44 of 368 | 9.8% | 2.2% | 368 | 2.08 |
| 83 | University of Kansas | 46 | 11.9% 15 of 126 | 7.9% | 4.0% | 126 | 1.17 |
| 84 | New York Law School | 112 | 11.8% 37 of 313 | 10.9% | 1.0% | 313 | 1.77 |
| 85 | University of Cincinnati | 82 | 11.8% 15 of 127 | 11.0% | 0.8% | 127 | 1.07 |
| 86 | Drexel University | 82 | 11.3% 15 of 133 | 11.3% | 0.0% | 133 | 1.66 |
| 87 | Hofstra University | 117 | 11.0% 29 of 263 | 10.3% | 0.8% | 263 | 2.10 |
| 88 | University of Nebraska | 62 | 10.5% 15 of 143 | 7.7% | 2.8% | 143 | 1.21 |
| 89 | Suffolk University | 128 | 10.3% 37 of 358 | 9.2% | 1.1% | 358 | 2.15 |
| 90 | University of Nevada - Las Vegas | 91 | 10.3% 12 of 117 | 7.7% | 2.6% | 117 | 1.79 |
| 91 | Stetson University | 91 | 10.1% 29 of 287 | 8.7% | 1.4% | 287 | 1.68 |
| 92 | University of Louisville | 124 | 10.1% 12 of 119 | 9.2% | 0.8% | 119 | 1.42 |
| 93 | University of South Carolina | 62 | 10.0% 19 of 190 | 8.4% | 1.6% | 190 | 1.54 |
| 94 | University of Mississippi | 124 | 9.1% 16 of 176 | 3.4% | 5.7% | 176 | 1.43 |
| 95 | West Virginia University | 124 | 8.8% 8 of 91 | 5.5% | 3.3% | 91 | 1.85 |
| 96 | Syracuse University | 100 | 8.7% 18 of 208 | 7.2% | 1.4% | 208 | 1.93 |
| 97 | University of Denver | 91 | 8.4% 24 of 285 | 8.1% | 0.4% | 285 | 1.93 |
| 98 | DePaul University | 131 | 8.4% 13 of 155 | 8.4% | 0.0% | 155 | 1.56 |
| 99 | Louisiana State University | 85 | 8.1% 16 of 198 | 3.5% | 4.5% | 198 | 1.53 |
| 100 | Pennsylvania State University - Dickinson Law | 62 | 8.1% 18 of 223 | 6.3% | 1.8% | 223 | 1.52 |
| 101 | Samford University | 122 | 7.9% 11 of 139 | 5.8% | 2.2% | 139 | 1.69 |
| 102 | University of Kentucky | 70 | 7.8% 9 of 115 | 1.7% | 6.1% | 115 | 2.09 |
| 103 | University of Missouri - Kansas City | 100 | 7.8% 10 of 128 | 6.3% | 1.6% | 128 | 1.46 |
| 104 | Mississippi College | 161 | 7.8% 8 of 103 | 0.0% | 7.8% | 103 | 1.82 |
| 105 | University of Richmond | 62 | 7.7% 9 of 117 | 5.1% | 2.6% | 117 | 1.67 |
| 106 | University of Dayton | 112 | 7.6% 7 of 92 | 7.6% | 0.0% | 92 | 0.89 |
| 107 | University of Oklahoma | 62 | 7.6% 12 of 158 | 5.1% | 2.5% | 158 | 1.77 |
| 108 | University of Arkansas - Fayetteville | 100 | 7.6% 9 of 119 | 5.9% | 1.7% | 119 | 1.57 |
| 109 | Duquesne University | 85 | 7.2% 11 of 152 | 5.3% | 2.0% | 152 | 1.62 |
| 110 | Creighton University | 144 | 7.1% 8 of 113 | 5.3% | 1.8% | 113 | 1.41 |
| 111 | Nova Southeastern University | 175 | 6.9% 14 of 202 | 6.9% | 0.0% | 202 | 2.12 |
| 112 | Cleveland-Marshall College of Law | 136 | 6.8% 9 of 132 | 6.8% | 0.0% | 132 | 1.14 |
| 113 | Regent University | 91 | 6.8% 7 of 103 | 1.0% | 5.8% | 103 | 2.03 |
| 114 | Belmont University | 85 | 6.8% 8 of 118 | 5.9% | 0.8% | 118 | 2.03 |
| 115 | Michigan State University | 108 | 6.6% 13 of 197 | 4.6% | 2.0% | 197 | 1.15 |
| 116 | University of Missouri - Columbia | 59 | 6.4% 8 of 125 | 5.6% | 0.8% | 125 | 1.17 |
| 117 | South Texas College of Law Houston | 128 | 6.4% 19 of 299 | 5.4% | 1.0% | 299 | 2.70 |
| 118 | Mercer University | 108 | 6.3% 9 of 142 | 4.9% | 1.4% | 142 | 1.50 |
| 119 | University of New Hampshire | 136 | 6.3% 12 of 192 | 6.3% | 0.0% | 192 | 1.76 |
| 120 | Indiana University - Indianapolis | 124 | 6.1% 13 of 212 | 5.7% | 0.5% | 212 | 1.68 |
| 121 | University of Montana | 90 | 5.9% 5 of 85 | 0.0% | 5.9% | 85 | 2.99 |
| 122 | University of North Texas Dallas College of Law | 159 | 5.8% 7 of 120 | 4.2% | 1.7% | 120 | 1.66 |
| 123 | Pace University | 142 | 5.7% 15 of 261 | 5.4% | 0.4% | 261 | 1.97 |
| 124 | Marquette University | 59 | 5.7% 10 of 175 | 5.1% | 0.6% | 175 | 1.46 |
| 125 | University of North Dakota | 156 | 5.5% 4 of 73 | 0.0% | 5.5% | 73 | 1.99 |
| 126 | Texas Tech University | 85 | 5.1% 7 of 136 | 4.4% | 0.7% | 136 | 1.50 |
| 127 | University at Buffalo | 82 | 5.1% 7 of 137 | 4.4% | 0.7% | 137 | 1.69 |
| 128 | Campbell University | 131 | 5.0% 9 of 181 | 3.3% | 1.7% | 181 | 2.01 |
| 129 | University of Oregon | 91 | 4.9% 7 of 142 | 2.8% | 2.1% | 142 | 2.20 |
| 130 | California Western School of Law | 175 | 4.9% 10 of 205 | 3.4% | 1.5% | 205 | 2.40 |
| 131 | Wayne State University | 62 | 4.8% 6 of 124 | 4.8% | 0.0% | 124 | 1.28 |
| 132 | University of the Pacific - McGeorge | 152 | 4.7% 7 of 148 | 3.4% | 1.4% | 148 | 2.17 |
| 133 | Albany Law School | 120 | 4.7% 9 of 191 | 3.1% | 1.6% | 191 | 1.63 |
| 134 | St. Thomas University - Florida | 168 | 4.6% 9 of 194 | 3.6% | 1.0% | 194 | 2.30 |
| 135 | Florida A&M University | 175 | 4.6% 5 of 108 | 4.6% | 0.0% | 108 | 2.11 |
| 136 | Southwestern Law School | 161 | 4.5% 13 of 290 | 4.1% | 0.3% | 290 | 2.45 |
| 137 | Seattle University | 128 | 4.4% 9 of 204 | 4.4% | 0.0% | 204 | 2.28 |
| 138 | St. Mary's University | 150 | 4.3% 10 of 232 | 2.2% | 2.2% | 232 | 1.94 |
| 139 | University of Utah | 44 | 4.3% 4 of 93 | 4.3% | 0.0% | 93 | 1.85 |
| 140 | Texas Southern University | 175 | 4.3% 7 of 164 | 4.3% | 0.0% | 164 | 1.50 |
| 141 | University of Memphis | 140 | 4.3% 4 of 94 | 2.1% | 2.1% | 94 | 1.57 |
| 142 | University of Illinois Chicago School of Law | 167 | 4.0% 11 of 274 | 3.6% | 0.4% | 274 | 1.76 |
| 143 | Loyola University New Orleans | 135 | 4.0% 7 of 177 | 2.8% | 1.1% | 177 | 1.98 |
| 144 | Lewis and Clark College | 112 | 3.9% 6 of 153 | 2.6% | 1.3% | 153 | 2.19 |
| 145 | Barry University | 175 | 3.8% 9 of 235 | 3.8% | 0.0% | 235 | 1.89 |
| 146 | University of Akron | 131 | 3.8% 5 of 133 | 3.0% | 0.8% | 133 | 0.68 |
| 147 | University of South Dakota | 122 | 3.7% 3 of 82 | 0.0% | 3.7% | 82 | 1.97 |
| 148 | University of Maine | 91 | 3.4% 3 of 88 | 1.1% | 2.3% | 88 | 1.78 |
| 149 | University of Wyoming | 112 | 3.1% 2 of 64 | 0.0% | 3.1% | 64 | 1.67 |
| 150 | University of Hawaii | 91 | 3.1% 3 of 98 | 0.0% | 3.1% | 98 | 2.50 |
| 151 | Washburn University | 108 | 3.0% 3 of 99 | 2.0% | 1.0% | 99 | 1.61 |
| 152 | University of Arkansas - Little Rock | 140 | 3.0% 4 of 132 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 132 | 1.78 |
| 153 | Gonzaga University | 144 | 3.0% 6 of 198 | 2.5% | 0.5% | 198 | 1.60 |
| 154 | Oklahoma City University | 156 | 2.9% 4 of 138 | 0.7% | 2.2% | 138 | 1.68 |
| 155 | University of St. Thomas - Minneapolis | 105 | 2.7% 4 of 149 | 1.3% | 1.3% | 149 | 1.79 |
| 156 | University of Detroit Mercy | 142 | 2.6% 5 of 190 | 2.6% | 0.0% | 190 | 1.70 |
| 157 | University of Baltimore | 136 | 2.5% 5 of 204 | 2.0% | 0.5% | 204 | 2.40 |
| 158 | Vermont Law School | 154 | 2.3% 3 of 130 | 2.3% | 0.0% | 130 | 1.91 |
| 159 | University of Idaho | 148 | 2.2% 3 of 137 | 1.5% | 0.7% | 137 | 2.29 |
| 160 | North Carolina Central University | 175 | 2.2% 3 of 137 | 2.2% | 0.0% | 137 | 1.92 |
| 161 | Western State College of Law at Westcliff University | 175 | 2.2% 2 of 93 | 2.2% | 0.0% | 93 | 2.23 |
| 162 | John Marshall Law School - Atlanta | 175 | 2.0% 2 of 101 | 2.0% | 0.0% | 101 | 2.87 |
| 163 | New England School of Law | 168 | 1.8% 6 of 327 | 1.5% | 0.3% | 327 | 2.56 |
| 164 | Lincoln Memorial University | 175 | 1.8% 2 of 110 | 1.8% | 0.0% | 110 | 1.67 |
| 165 | University of Puerto Rico | 175 | 1.6% 2 of 124 | 0.8% | 0.8% | 124 | 1.05 |
| 166 | Elon Law School | 144 | 1.5% 2 of 135 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 135 | 1.91 |
| 167 | Widener University - Delaware | 154 | 1.5% 3 of 206 | 1.5% | 0.0% | 206 | 1.84 |
| 168 | Charleston School of Law | 171 | 1.4% 3 of 210 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 210 | 2.01 |
| 169 | Touro College | 164 | 1.4% 2 of 145 | 1.4% | 0.0% | 145 | 3.28 |
| 170 | Southern Illinois University | 175 | 1.4% 1 of 74 | 1.4% | 0.0% | 74 | 0.96 |
| 171 | University of The District of Columbia | 175 | 1.3% 1 of 80 | 1.3% | 0.0% | 80 | 1.95 |
| 172 | Ave Maria School of Law | 164 | 1.2% 1 of 81 | 1.2% | 0.0% | 81 | 2.03 |
| 173 | Mitchell Hamline School of Law | 152 | 1.2% 4 of 326 | 0.6% | 0.6% | 326 | 1.47 |
| 174 | University of Toledo | 149 | 1.1% 1 of 94 | 0.0% | 1.1% | 94 | 1.36 |
| 175 | CUNY | 171 | 1.0% 2 of 192 | 1.0% | 0.0% | 192 | 2.14 |
| 176 | University of Massachusetts Dartmouth | 171 | 1.0% 1 of 98 | 1.0% | 0.0% | 98 | 2.40 |
| 177 | University of New Mexico | 117 | 1.0% 1 of 100 | 0.0% | 1.0% | 100 | 2.21 |
| 178 | Willamette University | 168 | 1.0% 1 of 105 | 1.0% | 0.0% | 105 | 2.24 |
| 179 | Drake University | 91 | 0.9% 1 of 114 | 0.0% | 0.9% | 114 | 1.66 |
| 180 | Southern University Law Center | 175 | 0.9% 2 of 231 | 0.9% | 0.0% | 231 | 2.08 |
| 181 | Capital University | 175 | 0.8% 1 of 121 | 0.8% | 0.0% | 121 | 1.52 |
| 182 | Thomas M. Cooley Law School | 175 | 0.7% 1 of 143 | 0.7% | 0.0% | 143 | 2.45 |
| 183 | Roger Williams University | 171 | 0.6% 1 of 169 | 0.6% | 0.0% | 169 | 2.06 |
| 184 | University of Tulsa | 120 | 0.0% 0 of 113 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 113 | 1.68 |
| 185 | Quinnipiac University | 136 | 0.0% 0 of 123 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 123 | 2.25 |
| 186 | Liberty University | 144 | 0.0% 0 of 100 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 100 | 1.73 |
| 187 | Western New England University | 159 | 0.0% 0 of 84 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 84 | 1.80 |
| 188 | Northern Illinois University | 161 | 0.0% 0 of 107 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 107 | 1.40 |
| 189 | Faulkner University | 164 | 0.0% 0 of 88 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 88 | 2.14 |
| 190 | Appalachian School of Law | 175 | 0.0% 0 of 43 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 43 | 2.76 |
| 191 | Inter American University | 175 | 0.0% 0 of 197 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 197 | 1.55 |
| 192 | Ohio Northern University | 175 | 0.0% 0 of 49 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 49 | 1.55 |
| 193 | Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico | 175 | 0.0% 0 of 147 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 147 | 1.59 |
| 194 | Jacksonville University | N/A | 0.0% 0 of 13 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 13 | 1.27 |
| 195 | Wilmington University School of Law | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
National Employment Trends (2016–2025)
How the legal hiring market has shifted across all ABA-accredited schools.
- 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%)
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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?▼
Which schools have the best BigLaw placement?▼
Why are federal clerkships valuable?▼
What does the Combined column measure?▼
Should I choose higher rank with debt or scholarship at lower rank?▼
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 × 100Clerkship %
Federal judicial clerkships (district, circuit, SCOTUS) in FTLT positions
Federal Clerks FTLT / Total Grads × 100Combined
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)
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