Comprehensive Employment Statistics

​​For the graduating class of 2021​, 98 percent were employed or continuing their education. The employment data in the tables below is generated by NALP, the Association for Legal Career Professionals. The tables belo​w have been formatted for readability; you may also view the original 2009 [PDF], 2010 [PDF], 2011 [PDF], 2012 [PDF],  2013 [PDF], 2014 [PDF], 2015 [PDF], 2016 [PDF], 2017 [PDF], 2018 [PDF], 2019 [PDF], 2020 [PDF], and 2021 [PDF]​ NALP Summary Reports (partially redacted for privacy). 

In addition, we provide the ABA Employment Summary for 2021 [PDF],  2020 [PDF]*, 2019 [PDF],  2018 [PDF],  2017 [PDF],  2016 [PDF], 2015 [PDF], 2014 [PDF], 2013 [PDF], and 2012 [PDF] grads. This includes data other than that reported to NALP—e.g., law school/university funded positions. (The ABA data for previous years mirrored that of NALP, and so we do not include it separately here.)

*Information on employment outcomes for the Class of 2020 many not reflect a particular law school's typical results in this area.  As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, bar admissions exams were canceled or delayed in many jurisdictions, thus making it more challenging for graduates to secure employment by the annual Graduate Employment Status Date of March 15.  Please reference the 3 years of employment outcome data posted on the ABA Required Disclosures webpage of each ABA-Approved Law School or at www.abarequireddisclosures.org.

Most Popular Markets

Class of 2017-2021

  • New York: 26%
  • Illinois: 13%
  • Washington, D.C.: 12%
  • California: 11%
  • Michigan: 10% 

Breakdown of Jobs by Sector

Class of 2021

  • Law Firms: 62%
  • Clerkships: 18%
  • Public Interest: 13%
  • Government: 5%
  • Business or Industry: 2%
  • Academia: <1%



General Employment Information
 Latest National NALP Data Available (2021) Michigan Law Data
 Class of 2021
Class of 2020
Class of 2019
Graduating Class Size 35,712 363 332 307
Employment status known 34,562 363
330 306
Bar passage required 27,019 342
316 293
# for which salary is known ​18,838 330
305 287
% for which salary is known 78.2% 94.2% 95.8% 98%
25th %ile of salary $​63,000 $70,000 $70,000 $66,991
50th %ile of salary $80,000 $205,000 $190,000 $190,000
mean salary ​$112,137 $153,311 $141,899 $140,205
75th %ile of salary $19​0,000​ $215,000 $190,000 $190,000
JD Advantage† 3,672 9 7 6
Professional Position 804 2 0 0
Other Position 246 1 0 1
Undeterminable 22 0 0 0
Enrolled in Graduate Studies 415 3 1 0
Start Date after March 15​ 217 ​0 0 1
Unemployed—not seeking 3742
1 2
Unemployed—seeking 1,793 4 5 3
Employment Status Unknown†1,150
0 2 1

†"JD Advantage" includes management consulting, investment banking, real estate, legal jobs overseas, etc.

 

 

Employment by Category
 Latest National NALP Data Available (2021) Michigan Law Data
 Class of 2021
Class of 2020
Class of 2019
Graduating Class Size 35,712 363 332 307
Academic 437 3 1 1
Business 3,487 8 3 4
Bar passage required 986 2 0 1
JD Advantage 1,803 3 3 2
Other Professional 483 2 0 0
Nonprofessional 210 1 0 1
Judicial Clerk 3,402
62 56 53
# for which salary is known 2,543 60 55 51
% for which salary is known 75% 97% 98% 96%
25th %ile of salary ​$52,605 $59,660 $60,000 $61,218
50th %ile of salary ​$61,000 $66,108 $65,000 $63,192
mean salary$60,977 $64,492 $64,618 $63,786
75th %ile of salary $68,309 $70,548 $70,000 $66,991
Private Practice 18,091 219 208 197
# for which salary is known ​12,219 219 207 195
% for which salary is known ​68% 100% 99.5% 99%
25th %ile of salary $75,000​ $205,000 $190,000 $190,000
50th %ile of salary $131,500​ $215,000 $190,000 $190,000
mean salary$137,844 $198,910 $179,510 $177,010
75th %ile of salary$205,000 $215,000 $190,000 $190,000
501+ attorneys 5,745 165 157 143
251–500 attorneys 1,116 23 29 30
101–250 attorneys ​1,129 12 8 5
51–100 attorneys 1,000​ 5 4 9
26–50 attorneys 1,228 4 4 7
11–25 attorneys 2,027 4 3 2
1–10 attorneys 5,551 6​ 3 1
Solo practitioner 210 0 0 0
Unknown size85 0 0 0
Government3,536 16 19 20
# for which salary is known 2,266 16 16 17
% for which salary is known64% 100% 84% 85%
25th %ile of salary ​$55,000 $60,500 $60,480 $50,000
50th %ile of salary ​$65,000 $69,000 $69,250 $60,000
mean salary ​$67,040 $69,100 $65,027 $65,420
75th %ile of salary $​73,000 $80,500 $72,030 $69,000
Public Interest ​2,758 46​ 36 25

 

 

Most Popular Markets for 2021
New York 25%  88 Jobs
Washington, D.C.
1​3.6%  48 Jobs
California 12%  42 Jobs
Illinois
11%  40 Jobs
Michigan 8% 28 Jobs

 

 

Breakdown of Jobs by Sector 2021
Law Firm 61.9%  219 Jobs
Clerkships 17.5% 62 Jobs
Public Interest 12.9% 46 Jobs
Government 4.5% 16 Jobs
Business/Industry 2.3% 8 Jobs
Academic < 1% 3 Jobs