These law schools posted highest employment rates of 2024

By Karen Sloan

April 24 (Reuters) - Duke Law School sent the highest percentage of graduates into full-time law jobs in 2024, unseating the University of Virginia School of Law, which held that position the two previous years, according to data from the American Bar Association.

Nearly 98% of Duke’s 2024 juris doctor graduates went on to full-time, permanent jobs that require bar passage — the highest of all 195 ABA-accredited law schools.

Cornell Law School was next with an employment rate of 96.43%, followed by Baylor University School of Law at 95.45% and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law at 95.09%. Former No. 1 Virginia posted the fifth-highest employment rate at 94.65%. Virginia law school did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Data released on Wednesday by the ABA shows that the law class of 2024 enjoyed record-high employment 10 months after leaving campus. More than 82% of last year’s juris doctor class landed jobs that require bar admission. That percentage, representing the highest rate ever recorded by the ABA for bar admission jobs, was up from 80% in 2023.

That gain is especially notable because last year’s class had nearly 11% more graduates than its predecessor, meaning there were 3,722 more new lawyers competing for jobs.

Baylor posted the highest employment rate among law schools outside of T-14, which are the top 14 schools according to U.S. News & Report. The Waco, Texas, law school is ranked No. 43.

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