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By the Numbers: Banner Year for Career Outcomes

2020 PreLaw Rankings

Albany Law School remains among the top law schools in the U.S. at preparing students for careers in government and public interest, and for jobs as public defenders and prosecutors, according to preLaw magazine’s latest rankings.

In its Winter 2020 issue, pre- Law named Albany Law one of the “Best Schools for Public Service” in three categories: Public Defenders/Prosecutors (No. 3), Government (No. 4), and Public Interest (No. 12). The top-five showings in Public Defenders/Prosecutors and Government mark an improvement of nine and four spots, respectively.

PreLaw reporter Katie Thisdell noted, “[A] growing number of law students are gravitating toward these positions because of the personal rewards. Studies show that lawyers who do such work are among the happiest. “Currently, more than one-quarter of law school graduates land their first jobs in some form of public service.”

A study released in 2018 by Gallup and the Association of American Law Schools found that undergraduates considering a law degree are most interested in a pathway to a career in politics, government, or public service (44%).

Overall it was a terrific year for career placement, with 90% of the Class of 2019 employed professionally 10 months after graduation, according to the law school’s report to the American Bar Association. “This is a community effort,” said Assistant Dean Mary Walsh Fitzpatrick, head of the Career and Professional Development Center. “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.”

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