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Employment Statistics and Trends 2016-2017

The employment chart represents data reported to the American Bar Association (ABA) in March 2017. 

Jump to: Definitions


Widener - Commonwealth

Class of 2016 Employment Report at 10 Months After Graduation
Widener - Commonwealth [Download a PDF of the ABA Employment Summary for 2016 Graduates.]

EMPLOYMENT STATUS FULL TIME
LONG TERM
FULL TIME
SHORT TERM
PART TIME
LONG TERM
PART TIME
SHORT TERM
NUMBER
Employed - Bar Passage Required 26 0 0 0 26
Employed - J.D. Advantage 10 0 2 1 13
Employed - Professional Position 10 0 0 0 10
Employed - Non-Professional Position 1 0 0 0 1
Employed - Law School/University Funded 0 0 0 0 0
Employed - Undeterminable 0 0 0 0 0
Pursuing Graduate Degree Full Time         0
Unemployed - Start Date Deferred         0
Unemployed - Not Seeking         0
Unemployed - Seeking         2
Employment Status Unknown         1
Total Graduates         53

 

EMPLOYMENT TYPE FULL TIME
LONG TERM
FULL TIME
SHORT TERM
PART TIME
LONG TERM
PART TIME
SHORT TERM
NUMBER
Law Firms          
     Solo 0 0 1 0 1
     2 - 10 10 0 1 0 11
     11 - 25 4 0 0 1 5
     26 - 50 2 0 0 0 2
     51 - 100 0 0 0 0 0
     101 - 250 1 0 0 0 1
     251 - 500 2 0 0 0 2
     501 + 0 0 0 0 0
     Unknown Size 0 0 0 0 0
Business & Industry 6 0 0 0 6
Government 14 0 0 0 14
Pub. Int. 1 0 0 0 1
Clerkships - Federal 2 0 0 0 2
Clerkships - State & Local 4 0 0 0 4
Clerkships - Other 0 0 0 0 0
Education 1 0 0 0 1
Employer Type Unknown 0 0 0 0 0
Total 47 0 2 1 50

 

LAW SCHOOL/UNIVERSITY FUNDED POSITIONS FULL TIME
LONG TERM
FULL TIME
SHORT TERM
PART TIME
LONG TERM
PART TIME
SHORT TERM
NUMBER
Employed - Bar Passage Required 0 0 0 0 0
Employed - J.D. Advantage 0 0 0 0 0
Employed - Professional Position 0 0 0 0 0
Employed - Non-Professional Position 0 0 0 0 0
Total Employed by Law School/University 0 0 0 0 0

 

EMPLOYMENT LOCATION STATE NUMBER
State - Largest Employment Pennsylvania 45
State - 2nd Largest Employment New Jersey 2
State - 3rd Largest Employment California 1
Employed in Foreign Countries   0

 


 

Definitions

Employed – Bar Passage Required.

A position in this category requires the graduate to pass a bar exam and to
be licensed to practice law in one or more jurisdictions. The positions that
have such a requirement are varied and include, for example, positions in
law firms, business, or government. However, not all positions in law firms,
business, or government require bar passage; for example, a paralegal
position would not. Positions that require the graduate to pass a bar exam
and be licensed after beginning employment in order to retain the position
are included in this category. Judicial clerkships are also included in this
category.

Employed – J.D. Advantage.

A position in this category is one for which the employer sought an
individual with a J.D., and perhaps even required a J.D., or for which the
J.D. provided a demonstrable advantage in obtaining or performing the job,
but which does not itself require bar passage or an active law license or
involve practicing law. Examples of positions for which a J.D. is an
advantage include a corporate contracts administrator, alternative dispute
resolution specialist, government regulatory analyst, FBI agent, and
accountant. Also included might be jobs in personnel or human resources,
jobs with investment banks, jobs with consulting firms, jobs doing
compliance work in business and industry, jobs in law firm professional
development, and jobs in law school career services offices, admissions
offices, or other law school administrative offices. Doctors or nurses who
plan to work in a litigation, insurance, or risk management setting, or as
expert witnesses, would fall into this category, as would journalists and
teachers (in a higher education setting) of law and law related topics. It is an
indicator that a position does not fall into this category if a J.D. is uncommon
among persons holding such a position.

Employed – Professional Position.

A position in this category is one that requires professional skills or training
but for which a J.D. is neither required nor a demonstrable advantage.
Examples of persons in this category include a math or science teacher,
business manager, or performing arts specialist. Other examples include
professions such as doctors, nurses, engineers, or architects, if a J.D. was
not demonstrably advantageous in obtaining the position or in performing
the duties of the position.

Employed – Non-Professional Position.

A position in this category is one that does not require any special
professional skills or training.

Short-term.

A short-term position is one that has a definite term of less than one year.
Thus, a clerkship that has a definite term of one year or more is not a short-term
position. It also includes a position that is of an indefinite length if that
position is not reasonably expected to last for one year or more.

A position that is envisioned by the graduate and the employer to extend for
one year or more is not a short-term position even though it is conditioned
on bar passage and licensure. Thus, a long-term position that is conditioned
on passing the bar exam by a certain date does not become a short-term
position because of the condition.

Long-term.

A long-term position is one that does not have a definite or indefinite term of
less than one year. It may have a definite length of time as long as the time
is one year or longer. It may also have an indefinite length as long as it is
expected to last one year or more. The possibility that a short-term position
may evolve into a long-term position does not make the position a long-term
position.

Full-time.

A full-time position is one in which the graduate works a minimum of 35
hours per week. A full-time position may be either short-term or long-term.

Part-time.

A part-time position is one in which the graduate works less than 35 hours
per week. A part-time position may be either short-term or long-term.