National Jurist -September 2008 - (Page 35) employed as of February 15, 2008. This rate increased for the third year in a row and was at its highest in 20 years, according to findings reported in NALP’s newly released “Jobs & JD’s: Employment and Salaries of New Law Graduates — Class of 2007.” Moreover, it was the first time since 2000 that the employment rate exceeded 91 percent. Since 1997 the employment market for new law graduates has remained relatively strong and remarkably stable, standing close to or above an 89 percent employment rate. It is also clear, however, that a strong employment market does not mean that every new graduate started work at a large firm at one of the muchpublicized $160,000 salaries. In fact, just 16 percent of salaries were $160,000. Far more, 38 percent, were $55,000 or less. Many more graduates started work in small firms of 50 or fewer lawyers or in non-firm settings than at firms of more than 100 lawyers. Among the findings: •Of the graduates for whom employment status was known, 76.9 percent The National Jurist is aware that not everyone takes the firm route. With information compiled by the National Association of Law Placement, we rank the Top 5 non-firm groups in the legal community. Rank Employer Total # hired in Total # of 2007 employers 1 U.S. Department of Justice 152 701+ 2 U.S. Army 120 701+ 3 U.S. Air Force 94 701+ 4 NYC Law Department 62 501-700 5 U.S. Navy 51 701+ Honorable Federal Communications 4 501-700 mention Commission 8 501-700 Honorable Federal Trade Commission mention Source: NALP Directory of Legal Employers Top 5 non-firm groups obtained a job for which bar passage is required. An additional 7.7 percent obtained jobs for which a J.D. degree is preferred, or may even be required, but for which bar passage is not required. •Similar to prior years, just over 2 percent of graduates for whom employment status was known were pursuing an advanced degree, typically an LL.M. •The most common employment setting was that of private practice within a law firm. Of the graduates employed, 55 percent obtained their first job in a law firm. From the outside, one law firm looks pretty much like another. Yet it’s the little differences between firms that can radically shape an associate’s experience. Study abroad in Application Deadline: November 1, 2008 7th Annual Program in Comparative and International Law December 19, 2008 – January 9, 2009 • Curaçao, The Netherlands Antilles If you have questions, contact the International Programs Office at (516) 463-0437 or curacao@hofstra.edu This ABA-approved winter program is co-sponsored by Hofstra Law School and the University of Baltimore School of Law; in cooperation with Erasmus University Rotterdam Faculty of Law; and hosted by the University of the Netherlands Antilles. For more information and an application, please visit our website: law.hofstra.edu/curacao 35 September 2008 THE NATIONAL JURIST http://law.hofstra.edu/curacao http://law.hofstra.edu/curacao
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