Career Development
Employment Statistics 2016
A Moritz law degree provides many opportunities and every year our graduates obtain positions in a broad array of job sectors, including traditional law firm practice, government and public interest, academia, and business. Our career service staff helps students achieve their goals during and after law school through individualized self assessment, identifying appropriate legal career options, providing training in job search skills and offering many sources of employment opportunities.
Graduate Employment Rate for the class of 2016 as of March 15, 2017
Law schools report employment information to the National Association of Law Placement (“NALP”) and the American Bar Association (“ABA”) as of a set date in March each year. For the class of 2016, Moritz was able to report employment information for 100% of the class.
General Summary
Total number of graduates: 179
| Number | Percent of Total in Class | |
|---|---|---|
| Employed Full-Time |
164
|
91.6%
|
| Pursuing Graduate Degree |
2
|
1.1%
|
| Employed Part-Time |
12
|
6.7%
|
| Unemployed, Seeking Employment |
1
|
0.6%
|
| TOTAL |
179
|
100%
|
Breakdown by Type of Employment
Students at Moritz have diverse career goals, and we work closely with our students to help them find rewarding employment consistent with their goals and interests. Some students seek traditional legal work within law firms, the government, or public interest entities. Others seek policy, management and administrative work, in which employers prefer, but do not always require, legal training or admittance to a Bar (J.D. Advantage). Here is the breakdown of the class of 2016 by job criteria:
| Employment Status | Number | Percent of Those Employed | Percent of Total Class | Full-Time | Part-Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Long-Term
|
Short-Term
|
Long-Term
|
Short-Term
|
||||
| Bar Exam Passage Required |
147
|
83.5%
|
82.1%
|
140
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
| J.D. Advantage |
26
|
14.8%
|
14.5%
|
20
|
0
|
1
|
5
|
| Total Bar Required/J.D. Advantage |
173
|
98.3%
|
96.6%
|
160
|
2
|
5
|
6
|
Of the remaining six graduates, two were pursuing graduate degrees, three were in nonprofessional jobs, and one was volunteering while seeking paid employment.
School Funded Positions
Through the support of foundations and donors, Moritz is able to offer fully funded fellowships (including salary and benefits) in specific areas of public service practice. This year three graduates obtained fellowships through this process: the Reinberger Foundation Fellowship in Prosecution, the Finn Fellowship in International Law, and the OCCH/Legal Aid Fellowship. These positions are full-time/long term (one year-long).
Moritz Career Start Grants provide short-term stipends to graduates still seeking full-time employment to enable them to gain work experience with organizations in fields that will further their career goals. Two graduates were so employed at the time of this report: one is working for a judge until he is brought on full time and one is working part-time at a local immigration firm.
Five graduates working in school funded positions were conducting research for faculty.
Class of 2016 by Sector
For the 47.2% of students who accepted positions at firms, the chart below demonstrates the size of the law firm:
Full-Time, Bar Passage Required Positions
| Sector | Number Reported | Percent Employed | Examples of Ohio Employers | Examples of Non-Ohio Employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firm (size) | ||||
|
2-10
|
23
|
13.1
|
Hurtuk & Daroff Co., LLP; Patituce & Associates, LLC | Gubler & Abbott, LLC (CA); Itkowitz PLLC (NY) |
|
11-25
|
7
|
4.0
|
Fishel Hass Kim Albrecht LLP; The Spitz Law Firm, LLC | |
|
26-50
|
5
|
2.8
|
Bailey Cavalieri LLC; Crabbe Brown & James LLP | Anspach Meeks Ellenberger LLP (WV); Ver Ploey & Lumpkin LPA (FL) |
|
51-100
|
2
|
1.1
|
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter; Krugliak, Wilkins, Griffiths & Daugherty, Co., L.P.A. | |
|
101-250
|
14
|
8.0
|
Bricker & Eckler LLP; Calfee, Halter & Griswold, LLP | Snell & Wilmer (NV) |
|
251-500
|
7
|
4.0
|
Thompson Hine, LLP; Vorys Sater Seymour & Pease LLP | Ice Miller LLP (IN); Steptoe & Johnson PLLC (WV) |
|
501+
|
19
|
10.8
|
Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP; Jones Day | K&L Gates (PA); Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (NY) |
| Solo Practice |
2
|
1.1
|
Michelle McCarty | |
| Total | 79 | 44.9 | ||
| Business |
31
|
17.6
|
DSW, Inc.; Honda North America, Inc. | |
| Government |
18
|
10.2
|
Columbus City Attorney; Ohio Attorney General | Marine Judge Advocates Corps (VA); Suffolk County District Attorney (NY) |
| Judicial Clerkship |
8
|
4.5
|
U.S. Court of Appeals – Sixth Circuit; U.S. District Court – Southern District of Ohio | The Nebraska Supreme Court (NE); U.S. Court of Appeals – Sixth Circuit (MI) |
| Public Interest |
7
|
4.0
|
Disability Rights Ohio; Legal Aid of Southeast Ohio | Amnesty International (UK); El Paso Public Defender’s Office (TX) |
Full-Time, J.D. Advantage
| Sector | Number Reported | Percent Employed | Examples of Ohio Employers | Examples of Non-Ohio Employers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business |
9
|
5.1
|
Diamond Hill Capital Management; Rockbridge Capital | Ernst & Young (MI) |
| Government |
4
|
2.3
|
Ohio Department of Transportation | White House Office of Science & Technology Policy (D.C.) |
| Public Interest |
2
|
1.1
|
Health Policy Institute; Homes on the Hill | |
| Education |
4
|
2.3
|
Insight School of Ohio; The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law |
Every year, the Moritz Career Development Office organizes panels of professionals who speak to students about experiences in traditional law careers as well as those in other sectors. Here are some examples of recent programs:
-
- Large Firm Practice – Lawyers from regional and international law firms discussed the recruiting process and how to be successful in practice.
- Alternative Careers – Cheryl Heisler, President and Founder of Lawternatives and alternative careers expert, talked to students about alternative careers in areas such as business, finance, human resources, higher education, public affairs and non-profits.
- Judicial Clerkships Panel – An information session was held on the value of post-graduate judicial clerkships featuring alumni and faculty who have clerked.
Employment by Geography
Graduates from the class of 2016 found employment throughout the United States and abroad. As a member of the National Law School Consortium (NLSC), an association of nine top public law schools from across the U.S., Moritz provides the opportunity for its students to meet employers to whom they may not otherwise be exposed by attending NLSC job fairs in various U.S. legal markets.
Salary Information
Salary data is self-reported by graduates, and 74.3% of the employed 2016 graduates reported their starting salaries which ranged from $50,000 in the 25th percentile to $110,000 in the 75th percentile, with a median salary of $65,000. Reported starting salaries vary widely within the private and public sectors.
| Sector | Number Reported | Number Reported w/ Salary | 25% | Median | 75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firm |
83
|
63
|
$65,000
|
$110,000
|
$120,000
|
| Business |
43
|
33
|
$45,760
|
$65,000
|
$75,100
|
| Government |
20
|
17
|
$47,500
|
$52,000
|
$57,075
|
| Education |
9
|
3
|
n/a
|
$33,000
|
n/a
|
| Judicial Clerkship |
8
|
8
|
$46,250
|
$53,500
|
$61,500
|
| Public Interest |
10
|
7
|
$44,000
|
$50,000
|
$60,000
|
| Military JAG |
2
|
2
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
| Law Firm Size | Number Reported | Number Reported w/Salary | 25% | Median | 75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2-10
|
27
|
15
|
$50,000
|
$55,000
|
$65,000
|
|
11-25
|
7
|
6
|
$47,500
|
$68,500
|
$87,000
|
|
26-50
|
5
|
3
|
n/a
|
$100,000
|
n/a
|
|
51-100
|
2
|
1
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
|
101-250
|
14
|
12
|
$110,000
|
$110,000
|
$115,000
|
|
251-500
|
7
|
7
|
$115,000
|
$116,000
|
$120,000
|
|
501+
|
19
|
19
|
$115,000
|
$120,000
|
$145,000
|
| Solo Practice |
2
|
0
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
For additional information on salary statistics nationally for beginning attorneys, visit http://www.nalp.org/recentgraduates.
Source of Job
Moritz graduates obtain legal jobs by a number of pathways, including on and off-campus interview programs through which law firms and public sector employers routinely hire our students, job postings on our web-based job site, and from working with career counselors to develop personalized job search strategies.
| Source of Job | Number Reported | Percent of Reported |
|---|---|---|
| Job Posting at Moritz |
56
|
35.9%
|
| Networking/Target Mail |
31
|
19.9%
|
| On-Campus Interview |
28
|
17.9%
|
| Referral |
16
|
10.3%
|
| Non-Moritz Job Posting |
11
|
7.1%
|
| Used School’s Judicial Clerkship Process or OSCAR |
4
|
2.6%
|
| Job Fair |
1
|
0.6%
|
| Pre-Law School Employer |
2
|
1.3%
|
| Started Own Business/Practice |
2
|
1.3%
|
| Other |
5
|
3.2%
|
In order to better prepare students for their job search, Moritz career counselors plan a variety of programs and networking events throughout the year. Here are some examples of recent programs:
- 1L Academy
- Oh, the Legal Places You Could Go! – A group of local practitioners representing various sectors of employers discussed features of their work.
- Step into the Profession NOW! – Local professionals and Moritz faculty and students spoke about ways to start transitioning to a professional now.
- What I Did My IL Summer – A panel of students discussed their diverse summer experiences and how they found these opportunities.
- Jump Start Week
- Resumes and Cover Letters That Get Results – A partner from a regional law firm gave tips on how to draft successful resumes and cover letters.
- Interview Demonstration – A local practioner and a 2L discussed how to prepare for an interview and performed a 30-minute interview on stage.
- Conducting a Job Search for Next Summer – Specific steps, timelines, and resources for finding employment for the post 1L summer were presented.
- Dress for Success – Fashion tips from business casual to formal attire were showcased in a fashion show.
- Etiquette Dinner – During a four-course dinner, Sandy Hyde, President of the Etiquette School of Ohio, reviewed table etiquette and provided tips on appropriate topics for conversation and on “working a crowd” at business receptions.
- Young Alumni Panel – A panel of recent alumni who successfully navigated the process of landing post-grad positions provided tips and strategies for a successful job search.
- IP Job Fair Information Session – An information session was held for current 1L and 2L students interested in interviewing for intellectual property positions through Loyola’s Patent Law Interview Program, a two-day interview program held in Chicago each summer that brings together patent law employers and law students from across the country to interview for summer associate positions and post-graduate employment.
- Judicial Clerkship Nuts & Bolts – An information session was held on what to expect in the application process and how to prepare.
- Opportunity Forum: Table Talk Session – A networking event with public sector and nonprofit employers who were hiring for summer positions as well as part-time school year positions was held.
- Lunch with a Lawyer Program – Students were invited each month to private and public sector employers for lunch and an opportunity to hone their informational interviewing skills.
- Mock Interview Program – 1Ls were matched with local practicing attorneys for 30-minute mock interviews followed by constructive feedback and coaching.
Rounding may cause one-tenth discrepancy in the reported numbers.
Employers of 2016 Graduates
Private Sector
AEP Service Corporation, Columbus, OH
Amazon Corporate, Cincinnati, OH
American Municipal Power Inc., Columbus, OH
Amnesty International, London, England
Anspach Meeks Ellenberger, Charleston, WV
Anthony Law LLC, Columbus, OH
Arch City Trailer Inc., Lockbourne, OH
Bailey Cavalieri, Columbus, OH
BakerHostetler, Cleveland, OH
BakerHostetler, Columbus, OH
Bison Jacobson Firm LLC, Cincinnati, OH
Boller & Petty, Columbus, OH
Bricker & Eckler, Columbus, OH
Buck, Fish & White, Columbus, OH
Calfee, Halter & Griswold, Cleveland, OH
Cavitch, Familo & Durkin, Cleveland, OH
Clemons, Nelson & Associates, Dublin, OH
Cochran, Davis & Associates, Palos Verdes, CA
Coldwell Banker King Thompson, Columbus, OH
Corsaro & Associates, Cleveland, OH
Crabbe Brown James LLP, Columbus, OH
Diamond Hill Capital Management, Columbus, OH
Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, Columbus, OH
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Cincinnati, OH
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Columbus, OH
DSW Inc., Columbus, OH
Dysinger & Patry LLC, Tipp City, Ohio
Empower Gas & Electric, Columbus, OH
Ernst & Young, Cleveland, OH
Ernst & Young, Columbus, OH
Ernst & Young, Detroit, MI
Etactics, Stow, OH
First Energy, Akron, OH
Fishel Hass Kim Albrecht LLP, Columbus, OH
Gallagher & Kavinsky, Columbus, OH
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, OH
Graham Vaage LLP, Glendale, CA
Gubler & Abbott LLP, Visalia, CA
Health Policy Institute of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Honda North America, Marysville, OH
Hurtuk & Daroff, Cleveland, OH
Ice Miller LLP, Columbus, OH
Ice Miller LLP, Indianapolis, IN
Itkowitz PLLC, New York, NY
John D. Smith Co. LPA, Springboro, OH
Jones Day, Cleveland, OH
Jones Day, Columbus, OH
Jones Day, Washington, D.C.
Joseph D. Carney & Associates, Cleveland, OH
K&L Gates, Pittsburgh, PA
Keating, Muething & Klekamp, Cincinnati, OH
Kegler, Brown, Hill & Ritter, Columbus, OH
Kilpatrick Townsend, Menlo Park, CA
Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP, Irvine, CA
Lanyon, Dallas, TX
Law Office of Ben Wright, Columbus, OH
Law Offices of John D. Clunk, Hudson, OH
Loveland Law LLC, Columbus, OH
Mark Terence Wong Law Firm, Scarborough, Canada
McTigue & Columbo, LLC, Columbus, OH
ModioLegal, Corona Del Mar, CA
Nationwide Insurance, Columbus, OH
OhioHealth Corporation, Columbus, OH
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, Wheeling, WV
Pappas Gibson LLC, Powell, OH
Patituce & Associates, LLC, North Olmstead, OH
Porter Wright, Columbus, OH
Rathbone Group LLC, Columbus, OH
Rockbridge Capital LLC, Columbus, OH
Schottenstein Stores Corporation, Columbus, OH
Simakovsky Law, Columbus, OH
Snell & Wilmer, Las Vegas, NV
Soroka & Associates LLC, Columbus, OH
Squire Patton Boggs, Cincinnati, OH
Squire Patton Boggs, Columbus, OH
Squire Patton Boggs, Tampa, FL
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, NY
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, Cincinnati, OH
The Gorman-Rupp Company, Mansfield, OH
The Sherwin-Williams Company, Cleveland, OH
The Spitz Law Firm, Beechwood, OH
Theran Selph & Associates LTD, Dublin, OH
Thompson Hine LLP Cleveland, OH
Thompson Hine LLP, Columbus, OH
Tower Legal Solutions, New York, NY
Ulmer & Berne LLP, Cleveland, OH
UnitedLex, Columbus, OH
Ver Ploeg & Lumpkin PA, Miami, FL
Vorys, Sater, Seymour & Pease LLP, Columbus, OH
Wegman Hessler Vanderberg, Cleveland, OH
Wendy’s International Inc., Dublin, OH
Westfield Insurance, Westfield Center, OH
Wolenetz & Harvath LLC, Columbus, OH
Yoss Law Firm, Caldwell, OH
Zeiger, Tigges & Little LLP, Columbus, OH
Public Sector
Columbus City Attorney, Columbus, OH
Delaware County Prosecutor, Delaware, OH
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, Delaware, OH
Disability Rights Ohio, Columbus, OH
El Paso Public Defender’s Office, El Paso, TX
Franklin County Conventions Facility Authority, Columbus, OH
Franklin County Municipal Court, Columbus, OH
Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, Columbus, OH
Greif Fellowship in Juvenile Human Trafficking, Columbus, OH
Immigrant Justice Corps, New York, NY
Insight School of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Legal Aid Society of Columbus, Columbus, OH
Logan County Prosecutor’s Office, Bellefontaine, OH
Nebraska Supreme Court, Lincoln, NE
Office of Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Ohio, Columbus, OH
Office of the Ohio Legislative Inspector General, Columbus, OH
Ohio Attorney General, Columbus, OH
Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus, OH
Ohio Treasurer of State, Columbus, OH
Southeast Ohio Legal Services, Newark, OH
Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Hauppauge, NY
The Ohio State University, Democracy Studies Program, Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law, Columbus, OH
United States Bankruptcy Court for Northern District of Ohio, Cleveland, OH
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Lansing, Michigan
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida, Fort Lauderdale, FL
United States District Court, Southern District of Ohio, Columbus, OH
White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Washington, D.C.
Click here to see employers of the classes of 2013-2015.
Additional Information on Our Employment Data
Class of 2016 NALP Report* *The report is partially redacted for privacy and may not reflect recent revisions submitted to NALP.
Employment Statistics for the Class of 2015