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Drake Law School’s focus on experiential learning not only gives students the tools to practice law, it produces results. These can be seen in the most recent employment statistics published by the American Bar Association.
With 90% of 2012 graduates employed nine months after graduation, Drake Law was 47th out of the 201 schools that reported data to the ABA for the class of 2012. This placed Drake in the 77th percentile, with employment numbers nearly 10% above the national average.
In 2012, 1,803 graduates were hired by their own law schools. When adjusted for employment by law schools, Drake’s long-term employment was 23rd out of 201 law schools, the 87th percentile.
Importantly, of those employed, 94% were in positions requiring bar passage or where a J.D. was preferred.
Jennifer Zwagerman, director of the Drake Law School Career Development Office stated, “The opportunities that the Des Moines legal market offers to students definitely make a difference when it comes to ensuring that students are prepared to enter practice, but just as importantly, that they have started to build a web of connections and contacts that they can use to find post-graduate employment and launch a career. Our alumni and even non-alumni realize the value that Drake students bring to an organization through the practical training and solid legal education that Drake Law provides. Our role at the Career Development Office is to provide support to students and alumni in a variety of ways and opportunities for both professional and personal development.”
The dedication of Drake Law School’s Career Development Office is also vital to the success of Drake Law’s current students and graduates. “From getting my first legal clerkship to landing a post-graduate associate attorney position, the career development office has been there every step of the way,” says 2013 graduate Maggie White “Law-related jobs have a unique application and interview process and the career development office provided me the tools I needed to succeed. I took advantage of the résumé workshops, mock interviews, and networking events offered by the career development office and it definitely paid off. Throughout law school I clerked at three Des Moines law firms and will join one as an associate attorney after the bar exam. I am grateful for all the help and advice I received throughout my law school career from the wonderful career development office staff. Combining an education grounded in practical experience, a great location, and a dedicated career development staff with students that are committed to being talented attorneys continues to produce results at Drake Law year after year.
Click here for more employment statistic information.