The University of Iowa College of Law has once again proven its excellence in the competitive job market, standing out as a top 10 law school for full-time job placement (Reuters).
In 2022, more than 98% (158 students) of the graduating class secured full-time jobs within 10 months of graduation. This achievement builds upon the college's outstanding job placement rates from previous years. In 2021, 99% (136 students) of the graduating class secured jobs, and in 2020, all 133 graduates found employment.
“Iowa Law’s Class of 2022 placement rate is one of the best of any law school in the country,” says Dean Kevin Washburn. “In addition to the impressive number of students successfully placed, the quality of those jobs is very high, with 36 students winning prestigious judicial clerkships. In addition, more than 28 graduates went to firms of 501+ attorneys, an impressive feat when one considers the closest office of a Big Law firm is 100 miles away.”
Each spring, the American Bar Association releases data on employment outcomes from the 197 accredited law schools. Nearly 78% of 2022 graduates found jobs that required bar passage within 10 months of graduation. This percentage increased from 76% among the Class of 2021 and was higher than the Class of 2019, the most recent cohort to enter the job market before the pandemic.
Iowa Law’s student success in the job market is supported by a strong career services team and its overarching commitment to producing highly skilled and employable lawyers. As in previous years, the Class of 2022 found jobs across the legal spectrum, including federal clerks (5%), state clerks (17%), big law firms (21%), small law firms (16%), government and public interest agencies (14%), and other law firms or legal-related roles (27%).
“The Career Services Office is dedicated to working with students on an individual level,” explains Melissa Norman, director of career and student services. “We want to meet with every student to learn about their practice area interests, location preferences, and desired type of employer. We strive to provide customized services that fit each student’s goals. This individualized service helps students succeed not only in finding high-quality employment but finding employment across a variety of sectors.”
The Class of 2022 also secured employment across a diverse range of geographic locations. Graduates found jobs in 26 different states, with Iowa ranking as the most common (64 students), followed by Minnesota (16 students) and Illinois (13 students). Additionally, five students secured employment internationally, a testament to the global relevance of an Iowa Law degree.
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Giving students early support to succeed.
Amid the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Iowa Law’s Community Connections program emerged in 2020 as a platform to engage alumni volunteers. The program aims to seamlessly guide incoming students into their Iowa Law journey by providing unique opportunities to connect with faculty, alumni, and current students even before they officially begin law school. With continuous growth over the years, the program has achieved a 90% participation rate across all three match categories. Thanks to the commitment of 30 passionate alumni volunteers from various parts of the country, 94 alumni-student matches were created in the current year alone.