South Dakota Law Schools
1 ABA-Accredited Law Schools • ~2,500 attorneys
All South Dakota Law Schools
Compare all 1 ABA-accredited law schools in South Dakota. Click column headers to sort.
Table Legend
| University of South Dakota | #122 | 152 | 3.47 | 63% | 0% | 69.2% | $32K |
South Dakota Bar Exam 2024: Pass Rates & Difficulty
Bar exam statistics and difficulty rating for South Dakota law school graduates
Pass Rate Comparison
Understanding Bar Exam Difficulty
Rating 1 (Easiest, 88%+): Very high pass rates indicating easier bar exams or exceptional law school preparation.
Rating 2 (Below Average Difficulty, 83-88%): Above-average pass rates showing moderate difficulty.
Rating 3 (Average Difficulty, 76-83%): Pass rates near national average of ~79%.
Rating 4 (Difficult, 70-76%): Below-average pass rates indicating challenging bar exams.
Rating 5 (Most Difficult, <70%): Significantly below national average. California (68%) and Florida (72%) are notably difficult.
Note: Bar difficulty rating based solely on first-time pass rates from ABA 2024 Bar Passage Statistics. Lower pass rates indicate more challenging bar exams. Individual law school preparation quality also affects outcomes.
South Dakota Legal Market Overview
Employment opportunities and top legal employers in South Dakota
Market Overview
South Dakota's legal market offers opportunities in Sioux Falls and Rapid City, with strength in banking, agriculture, and Native American law. The state's trust-friendly laws attract financial services work. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Top Legal Employers in South Dakota
Includes BigLaw firms, government offices, and public interest organizations. Rankings are not ordered by size or prestige.
Career Paths in South Dakota
Private Sector
- • BigLaw firms (501+ attorneys)
- • Midsize firms (50-100 attorneys)
- • Regional and boutique firms
- • Solo practice and small firms
- • In-house corporate counsel
Public Sector
- • Federal clerkships
- • State and federal prosecutors
- • Public defenders
- • Government agencies
- • Public interest organizations
Frequently Asked Questions
This is backward-looking data that relies on assumptions. Different outcomes are possible. This is not financial advice.