The University of Colorado Law School continues to make important strides in its career development efforts, with a higher percentage of graduates from the class of 2014 working at the conclusion of the employment reporting period than any class since 2008.
In March, Colorado Law reported post-graduation employment data for its class of 2014 to the American Bar Association (ABA) and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP). Of the 165 graduates, 93 percent reported employment ten months after graduation. Seventy-nine percent of graduates reported a full-time, long-term job for which bar passage was required or a JD was an advantage. By April 2015, only five students were still seeking employment without success finding a job. (The employment status of two graduates was unknown.)
The members of the class of 2014 entered into a diverse range of career paths, both in terms of employment locations and sectors of work. While graduates have accepted positions around the country, Colorado remains the top choice for post-graduate employment. 82 percent of graduates reporting employment are working within the state of Colorado.
Business and Alternative Careers
Leann Lu ('14) was one of the graduates that chose to head east upon graduation, landing a position with the corporate legal team at BlackRock, an international asset management firm headquartered in New York City. As a New York native, Lu discovered the position by connections made early on through Colorado Law鈥檚 ProNet, a network of engaged alumni willing to connect with students, and with the help of the Career Development Office (CDO).
Twelve percent of 2014 employed graduates accepted positions with businesses other than law firms, including Atlas Tower, Catholic Health Initiatives, DaVita Healthcare Partners, Ernst & Young, Ever West Real Estate Partners, Goldman Sachs, and Shareholder Representative Services. This group includes graduates in in-house counsel positions, such as Lu, and those who have taken employment where a having a JD is an advantage, but not necessarily a requirement.
Clerkships
Twelve percent of the class of 2014 accepted judicial clerkships. This group includes two federal court clerkships, six state appellate court clerkships and 11 state trial court judges.
The CDO works with students to secure clerkships and post-clerkship opportunities. Consider the case of Kim Skaggs ('14), for example, who is now working as a state court judicial clerk in Arapahoe County, Colorado.
Through her clerkship, Skaggs has had opportunities to observe all aspects of the lawyering spectrum while perfecting her legal research and writing skills. As Skaggs plans to become a trial court litigator, she found a judicial clerkship to be an ideal springboard for her future career.聽
Public Service Jobs
Colorado Law graduates enter into a vast array of public service jobs upon graduation. Excluding fellows receiving school funding, 14 percent of employed graduates are working in government, and another 11 percent are in public interest positions. The Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) is available for many graduates in public service jobs.
Many of the 2014 public sector graduates have begun careers as public defenders and district attorneys. Taking a different route within the public sector, however, is Julie Steeler ('14). Steeler works in the University of Colorado鈥檚 Office of University Counsel in Boulder as a research counsel.
Throughout her law school career, Steeler held internships and externships in all areas of the public sector. Steeler credits the CDO for guiding her toward a career in higher education law, which was something she had not considered before finding an internship with her current employer on the CDO鈥檚 site. She valued those other internships and externships, also facilitated by the CDO, as valuable experiences to round out her resume and tailor her legal interests.
Private Practice
Private practice remains the largest employment segment for recent graduates. 40 percent of 2014 employed graduates are working for law firms in private practice, with 92 percent of these graduates in full-time, long-term positions. Twenty-two graduates reported employment at National Law Journal 350 law firms.
One 2014 graduate, Nate Goergen, credits the CDO with helping him attain his associate position with Davis Graham & Stubbs, in the firm鈥檚 finance and acquisitions group. This position has allowed Goergen to apply his background in finance and business law to mergers & acquisitions, financing transactions, and public company security matters.
鈥淔rom reviewing and editing my cover letter and resume and organizing interview training sessions and mock interviews, to connecting me with alumni and other contacts at potential employers and emailing me personally with job leads in line with my interests, I felt like the CDO staff truly took a personal interest in me, my job search and my professional goals,鈥� Goergen said.