Class of 2019 Employment Statistics - Text Version
Employment Information for the Class of 2019
KU Law reports students employed 10 months following graduation to the ABA and NALP. For the Class of 2019, both the ABA and NALP required that a student be employed as of March 15, 2020, to be counted.
Overall employment at KU Law was 93.1 percent for the Class of 2019. This represents the sixth consecutive year of overall employment at or above 90 percent.
| Reporting Entity | % Employed | Formula Used | Class Size for 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| KU Law Overall Employment | 93.1% | (Employed + Full-Time Grad Programs) / Class Size | 102 |
This includes 86.3 percent of the class who landed positions that were Bar Passage-Required or JD-Advantage jobs that were also Full-Time and Long-Term — jobs that we regard as the highest quality positions for new graduates.
Unless otherwise specified, all numbers are based on data reported to the ABA for the Class of 2019. Differences in criteria between bodies like the ABA and NALP may create minor differences in similar categories. The related ABA and NALP forms can be found here.
Five-Year Comparison of KU Law Overall Employment Rates
(Employed + Full-Time Grad Programs) / Class Size
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93.1% | 93.3% | 91.7% | 90.8% | 94.1% |
Five-Year Comparison of Employment Categories - ABA
(Number Employed in Category) / Class Size
| Practice Area | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Practice | 45.3% | 42.0% | 45.5% | 39.4% | 48.1% |
| Business | 10.5% | 16.0% | 16.5% | 13.8% | 14.8% |
| Government | 20% | 20.2% | 13.2% | 21.1% | 17.7% |
| Judicial Clerk | 12.6% | 8.4% | 7.4% | 9.2% | 6.6% |
| Public Interest | 9.5% | 4.2% | 1.6% | 6.4% | 0.7% |
| Academic | 1.0% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 0% | 2.9% |
Private Practice Detail (Class of 2019) - ABA
(Number Employed in Category) / Class Size
| Size of Firm | # Reported | % of Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | 1 | 1.0% |
| 1-10 attorneys | 13 | 13.7% |
| 11-25 | 8 | 8.4% |
| 26-50 | 5 | 5.3% |
| 51-100 | 2 | 2.1% |
| 101-250 | 2 | 2.1% |
| 251-500 | 1 | 1.0% |
| 501+ | 7 | 7.4% |
| Unknown Size | 4 | 4.2% |
Class of 2019 Geographical Distribution - ABA
Graduation from KU Law permits you to stay in the region or move anywhere you prefer. While percentages vary widely, about 37% of employed 2019 graduates remained in Kansas, and another 33% took positions in Missouri. The balance of our students commenced their careers in communities across the U.S. Members of the Class of 2019 accepted positions in the District of Columbia and in 14 states, including New York, Texas, Colorado, Florida, Washington and Virginia. Over the past five years, KU Law graduates have started their careers in at least 30 states. KU Law alumni can also be found in all 50 states and in countries around the globe, including China, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
| State | # Reported | % Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas | 35 | 36.8% |
| Missouri | 31 | 32.6% |
| Washington, D.C. | 5 | 5.3% |
| Texas | 4 | 4.2% |
| Virginia | 4 | 4.2% |
| Colorado | 3 | 3.2% |
| New York | 3 | 3.2% |
| Florida | 1 | 1.0% |
| Louisiana | 1 | 1.0% |
| Maryland | 1 | 1.0% |
| Nebraska | 1 | 1.0% |
| New Jersey | 1 | 1.0% |
| Utah | 1 | 1.0% |
| Washington | 1 | 1.0% |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 1.0% |
| Outside the U.S. | 1 | 1.0% |
| Unknown | 1 | 1.0% |
Five-Year Comparison of Geographical Distribution by Region - ABA
| Region | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) | 0% | 0% | 1.0% | 2.1% | 0.8% |
| Middle Atlantic (NJ, NY, PA) | 4.2% | 1.8% | 1.0% | 3.1% | 1.6% |
| East North Central (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI) | 1.0% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.1% | 2.4% |
| West North Central (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) | 70.5% | 78.2% | 77.5% | 79.4% | 76.4% |
| South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) | 11.6% | 2.7% | 2.0% | 3.1% | 6.5% |
| West South Central (AR, LA, OK, TX) | 5.3% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 1.0% | 2.4% |
| East South Central (AL, KY, MS, TN) | 0% | 0% | 1.0% | 0% | 1.6% |
| Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) | 4.2% | 6.4% | 7.8% | 3.1% | 7.3% |
| Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) | 1.0% | 3.6% | 3.9% | 5.2% | 0.8% |
| Foreign | 1.0% | 0% | 0% | 1.0% | 0% |
Bar Exam
Our graduates routinely exceed the state average for first-time test takers. The key is careful preparation for the exam, aided by KU Law's bar prep program.
Below is historical data for the bar exam in Kansas and Missouri. In 2019, Missouri was the primary jurisdiction for the bar exam, followed by Kansas.
Kansas Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2019 | 32 | 28 | 87.5% | 87.12% | 0.38% |
| 2018 | 33 | 30 | 90.91% | 74.78% | 16.13% |
| 2017 | 50 | 43 | 86% | 81.51% | 4.49% |
| 2016 | 60 | 48 | 80% | 77.4% | 2.6% |
| 2015 | 22 | 20 | 90.91% | 82.01% | 8.9% |
| 2014 | 53 | 44 | 83.02% | 86.36% | -3.34% |
| 2013 | 66 | 58 | 87.88% | 89.16% | -1.28% |
| 2012 | 63 | 57 | 90.48% | 88.57% | 1.91% |
Missouri Bar Exam Detail
| KU First Time | State Average | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference |
| 2019 | 47 | 41 | 87.23% | 82.41% | 4.82% |
| 2018 | 54 | 46 | 85.19% | 82.1% | 3.09% |
| 2017 | 36 | 31 | 86.11% | 86.3% | -0.19% |
| 2016 | 28 | 26 | 92.86% | 83.48% | 9.38% |
| 2015 | 75 | 72 | 96% | 87.34% | 8.66% |
| 2014 | 37 | 33 | 89.19% | 87.59% | 1.6% |
| 2013 | 48 | 44 | 91.67% | 90.44% | 1.23% |
| 2012 | 42 | 40 | 95.24% | 92.11% | 3.13% |
KU Law graduates have also consistently performed well on bar exams in other states including California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Nevada, New York and Pennsylvania.
Ultimate Bar Passage
| Graduates | KU - Bar Exam Within Two Years | National Average | No Information | Did Not Take Bar | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Taking | Passing | Pass Rate | Pass Rate | Percent Difference | Within Two Years | ||
| 2017 | 121 | 116 | 112 | 96.55% | 89.47% | 7.08% | 5 | 0 |
| 2016 | 113 | 106 | 93 | 87.74% | 88.7% | -0.96% | 4 | 3 |
| 2015 | 134 | 129 | 126 | 97.67% | 88.32% | 9.35% | 2 | 3 |