Race, ethnicity, parents' education level produce differing job outcomes for class of 2022 law grads
According to data from the National Association for Law Placement, class of 2022 law graduates had the highest employment rate in 35 years. But disparities persist based on race, ethnicity and level of parental education. Image from Shutterstock.
Nikia Gray, the executive director of the National Association for Law Placement, is asking legal employers to “stand firm” on their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion after the release of data showing that minorities from the class of 2022 fare worse in employment numbers.
Despite the recent backlash against DEI initiatives, legal employers should “continue working towards a more equitable and inclusive legal industry,” Gray said in an Oct. 17 press release.
According to data from the NALP, class of 2022 law graduates had the highest employment rate in 35 years. But disparities persist based on race, ethnicity and level of parental education. More specifically:
• For white law graduates, the employment rate in bar admission required/anticipated jobs was 82.7%, compared to 79% for Hispanic law grads, 78% for Asian law grads, 76.8% for multiracial law grads, 70.6% for Black law grads, 65.1% for Native American or Alaska Native law grads, and 60.8% for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander law grads.
• For white law graduates, the overall employment rate was 93.4%, compared to 92.2% for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander law grads, 91.6% for Hispanic law grads, 90.1% for Asian law grads, 89.8% for multiracial law grads, 89.2% for Black law grads, and 86.5% for Native American or Alaska Native law grads.
• For law graduates who were continuing-generation college students, the overall employment rate was 95.5%, compared to 92.1% for law grads who were first-generation college students. The employment rate in bar admission required/anticipated jobs was 87.6% for law grads who were continuing-generation college students, compared to 78.5% for law grads who were continuing-generation college students.
• Median starting salaries for employed class of 2022 law grads ranged from $75,000 for Native American and Alaska Native law grads, compared to $170,000 for Asian law grads. The national median salary for all class of 2022 law grads was $85,000.
