Employment Statistics
The Penn Law experience enables our graduates to pursue successful and fulfilling careers. The data below attests to our continued success in the market.
This information is based on student survey responses, ABA and NALP data, and reflects employment as of the February 15 following graduation for the classes of 2012-2013 and as of the March 15 following graduation for the classes of 2014-2016. Please note that the judicial clerkship chart reflects a different time period and includes alumni.
| General Employment Information | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduating Class Size | 258 | 246 | 278 | 259 | 270 |
| Employment Status Known | 258 | 245 | 278 | 259 | 270 |
| Employed | 253 | 240 | 274 | 252 | 265 |
| Start Date Deferred | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seeking Employment | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| Not Seeking Employment | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Enrolled in Full-Time Degree | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Unknown | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Penn Law’s cross-disciplinary JD program prepares students for a range of careers in the law and related fields, complemented by professional development programs that build skills necessary to pursue the best jobs and careers. At Penn Law, students are exposed to the widest variety of legal employers, nationally and internationally, as well as to Penn alumni worldwide who have used their law degrees to push the boundaries in their fields.
| Job Type | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firm | 180 | 173 | 207 | 167 | 196 |
| 2-10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 11-25 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| 26-50 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| 51-100 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| 101-250 | 7 | 5 | 13 | 11 | 17 |
| 251-500 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 25 |
| 501+ | 138 | 133 | 155 | 126 | 138 |
| Unknown size | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Solo Practice | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Judicial Clerk | 33 | 34 | 36 | 41 | 40 |
| Business or Industry | 21 | 12 | 10 | 19 | 12 |
| Government/Military | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| Public Interest | 11 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 10 |
| Academic | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Law School Funded (Short-Term) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Law School Funded (Long-Term) |
4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 9 |
|
Other Short Term |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
2016
| Salary Information | 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | Mean | Salaries Reported | |
|
Salary - All Job Types |
$125,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $149,011 |
245/253 (97%) |
| Law Firm | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $173,030 |
179/180 (99%) |
| 2-10 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 11-25 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 26-50 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 51-100 | $102,500 | $115,000 | $150,000 | $126,667 | 6/6 (100%) |
| 101-250 | $155,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $155,714 |
7/7 (100%) |
| 251-500 | $170,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $169,494 |
25/25 (100%) |
| 501+ | $180,000 | $180,000 | $180,000 | $177,645 |
138/138 (100%) |
| Unknown size | - | - | - | - | - |
| Solo Practice | - | - | - | - | - |
| Judicial Clerk | $54,711 | $62,000 | $63,886 | $58,764 |
31/33 (94%) |
| Business or Industry | $125,000 | $145,000 | $200,000 | $162,000 |
17/21 (81%) |
|
Government/ Military |
$53,000 | $60,892 | $63,412 | $59,367 |
8/8 (100%) |
| Public Interest | $45,500 | $48,250 | $50,000 | $48,482 |
10/11 (91%) |
| Academic | - | - | - | - | - |
2015
| Salary Information | 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | Mean | Salaries Reported | |
|
Salary - All Job Types |
$100,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $131,638 |
235/240 (98%) |
| Law Firm | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $154,192 |
172/173 (99%) |
| 2-10 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 11-25 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 26-50 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 51-100 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 101-250 | $150,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $148,000 |
5/5 (100%) |
| 251-500 | $150,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $152,391 |
23/23 (100%) |
| 501+ | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $158,397 |
133/133 (100%) |
| Unknown size | - | - | - | - | - |
| Solo Practice | - | - | - | - | - |
| Judicial Clerk | $52,000 | $60,000 | $63,161 | $58,431 |
31/34 (91%) |
| Business or Industry | $100,000 | $125,000 | $150,000 | $135,000 |
11/12 (92%) |
|
Government/ Military |
$52,237 | $62,000 | $64,045 | $59,652 |
7/7 (100%) |
| Public Interest | $45,000 | $47,000 | $55,000 | $50,000 |
14/14 (100%) |
| Academic | - | - | - | - | - |
2014
| Salary Information | 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | Mean | Salaries Reported | |
|
Salary - All Job Types |
$100,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $130,518 |
270/274 (98%) |
| Law Firm | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $151,413 |
206/207 (99%) |
| 2-10 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 11-25 | $61,500 | $100,000 | $152,500 | $105,600 | 5/5 (100%) |
| 26-50 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 51-100 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 101-250 | $127,500 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $144,231 |
13/13 (100%) |
| 251-500 | $142,500 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $151,771 |
24/24 (100%) |
| 501+ | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $157,161 |
155/155 (100%) |
| Unknown size | - | - | - | - | - |
| Solo Practice | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| Judicial Clerk | $51,250 | $60,000 | $61,245 | $58,355 |
34/36 (94%) |
| Business or Industry | $100,000 | $120,000 | $135,000 | $116,667 |
9/10 (90%) |
|
Government/ Military |
$25,000 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $48,922 |
9/9 (100%) |
| Public Interest | $41,250 | $49,000 | $55,066 | $46,126 |
10/10 (100%) |
| Academic | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
2013
| Salary Information | 2013 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | Mean | Salaries Reported | |
|
Salary - All Job Types |
$81,204 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $127,664 |
235/252 (93%) |
| Law Firm | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $155,067 |
163/167 (98%) |
| 2-10 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 11-25 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 26-50 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 51-100 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 101-250 | $145,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $151,364 |
11/11 (100%) |
| 251-500 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $155,278 |
18/18 (100%) |
| 501+ | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $157,183 |
126/126 (100%) |
| Unknown size | - | - | - | - | - |
| Solo Practice | - | - | - | - | - |
| Judicial Clerk | $50,182 | $60,000 | $60,761 | $55,201 |
40/41 (98%) |
| Business or Industry | $100,000 | $110,000 | $135,000 | $123,846 |
13/19 (68%) |
|
Government/ Military |
$33,375 | $60,000 | $71,602 | $54,708 |
7/9 (78%) |
| Public Interest | $18,000 | $45,000 | $51,000 | $38,682 |
11/14 (79%) |
| Academic | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
2012
| Salary Information | 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25th Percentile | Median | 75th Percentile | Mean | Salaries Reported | |
|
Salary - All Job Types |
$100,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $130,957 |
252/265 (95%) |
| Law Firm | $145,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $149,781 |
192/196 (98%) |
| 2-10 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 11-25 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 26-50 | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
| 51-100 | $100,000 | $105,000 | $147,500 | $120,000 | 5/5 (100%) |
| 101-250 | $140,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $150,588 |
17/17 (100%) |
| 251-500 | $125,000 | $135,000 | $160,000 | $137,280 |
25/25 (100%) |
| 501+ | $160,000 | $160,000 | $160,000 | $156,314 |
137/138 (99%) |
| Unknown size | - | - | - | - | - |
| Solo Practice | - | - | - | - | - |
| Judicial Clerk | $55,288 | $61,245 | $61,250 | $56,909 |
36/40 (90%) |
| Business or Industry | $100,000 | $130,000 | $140,000 | $144,545 |
11/12 (92%) |
|
Government/ Military |
$56,500 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $55,793 |
5/6 (83%) |
| Public Interest | $36,100 | $43,750 | $46,387 | $40,684 |
8/10 (80%) |
| Academic | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported | < 5 reported |
Judicial Clerkships
Penn Law students receive unparalleled support from staff and faculty in their pursuit of judicial clerkships. And today, recent clerkship placements are at the highest levels in our history. For the years 2011-16, our students and alumni secured 430 clerkships at all levels.
| Judicial Clerkships | FIVE YEARS: May 1, 2012 - April 30, 2017 | May 1, 2016 - April 30, 2017 | May 1, 2015 - April 30, 2016 | May 1, 2014 - April 30, 2015 | May 1, 2013 - April 30, 2014 | May 1, 2012 - April 30, 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Supreme Court | 2 | - | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| Circuit | 122 | 24 | 28 | 18 | 25 | 27 |
| District | 206 | 31 | 43 | 44 | 47 | 41 |
| Staff Attorneys | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Armed Forces Court of Appeals | 1 | - | - | 1 | - | - |
| Magistrate | 17 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Bankruptcy | 5 | 2 | - | 1 | 2 | - |
| U.S. Court of International Trade | 1 | - | - | - | - | 1 |
| U.S. Court of Federal Claims | 6 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Federal Administrative Law Judge | 5 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Delaware Chancery | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| State Supreme | 16 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| State Intermediate | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| State Trial | 19 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
| International | 5 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Subtotal for students | 268 | 52 | 57 | 45 | 55 | 58 |
| Subtotal for alumni | 167 | 21 | 30 | 45 | 35 | 36 |
| Total | 434 | 73 | 87 | 90 | 90 | 94 |
| Employment Requirements | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bar Passage Required - Full-time | 234* | 230** | 263 | 236 | 256 |
| Bar Passage Required - Part-time | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| J.D. Advantage | 17 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 7 |
| Non-Professional | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
*Includes 4 graduates in bar passage required positions funded by the law school
**Includes 9 graduates in bar passage required positions funded by the law school
Employment Fields
Employment Locations
To view our ABA Employment Summary Reports in accordance with Standard 509, please click here.