Albany Law School Announces 90% Employment Rate for Class of 2019
Ninety percent of Albany Law School's most recent J.D. class is employed professionally, according to data compiled by the law school for the American Bar Association.
It is the second time in the past four years that Albany Law School has reached the 90% threshold. Each spring, the country's ABA-approved law schools submit a summary to the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar on employment 10 months after graduation.
Of the 123 professionally employed graduates from the Class of 2019:
- 66 are in law firms (53.7%);
- 30 are in government (24.4%);
- 12 are in clerkships (9.8%);
- eight are in business and industry (6.5%);
- six are in public interest (4.9%);
- and one is in education (.8%).
Employment Summary for 2019 Graduates
"Finding meaningful employment is the goal, and I'm thrilled to see so many successful outcomes for our graduates," said President and Dean Alicia Ouellette. "This is the result of hard work by a tremendous class, and the support they received from our faculty, alumni, and staff."
Employers include: the White House; U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. Secret Service Headquarters; New York Court of Appeals; New York State Assembly Minority Counsel's Office; Office of the Colorado State Public Defender; numerous district attorneys' offices; federal and state judges in Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey; Ayco, a Goldman Sachs Company; and law firms of all sizes—Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, Holland & Knight LLP, and Milbank LLP among them.
In 2014, Albany Law School adopted a strategic plan in response to the legal job market. The defining feature of that plan, Opportunity Pathways, promotes professional development and career success for all students. The six Opportunity Pathways help organize and steer a student's journey, from orientation to employment in a chosen field.
The following year, Albany Law School's Career and Professional Development Center refocused to emphasize practical skills and professional growth. The center offers individualized career counseling and planning, interview coaching, and assistance with resume writing and other job-search essentials. It also regularly hosts employer information sessions, networking events, alumni practitioner sessions, and on- and off-campus interviews.
"This is a community effort. Albany Law School's students are dedicated to furthering their development and are supported by faculty and staff who care deeply about the law school's mission, alumni who give back in any way they can, and employers who are confident that our graduates are practice-ready," said Assistant Dean Mary Walsh Fitzpatrick, head of the Career and Professional Development Center. "This is why we do the work—congratulations to the class."