UMass Law ranks among nation's most improved law schools for graduate employment

Employment outcomes increased by more than 50% as UMass Law expanded career support and practical training

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law) ranks No. 9 nationally among the law schools that have made the greatest gains in graduate employment, according to a new analysis by National Jurist.

UMass Law's graduate employment rate increased by 27 percentage points between the periods analyzed, representing 53.3% growth—one of the 10 largest improvements among U.S. law schools.

The comparison spans nearly the entire history of UMass Law, which was established in 2010 and received provisional approval from the American Bar Association in 2012. The law school earned full ABA approval in 2016.

"This recognition reflects the remarkable progress UMass Law has made and the upward momentum we continue to see across the law school," said UMass Law Dean Eric Mitnick. "We have strengthened the academic, experiential and career preparation our students receive, and those efforts are translating into meaningful opportunities for our graduates."

The ranking compared average employment outcomes for the classes of 2012 through 2014 with those of the classes of 2023 through 2025. UMass Law's average graduate employment rate reached 77.7% during the most recent three-year period.

The analysis uses a narrower measure than overall employment, counting only graduates in full-time, long-term positions that require bar passage or for which a law degree provides an advantage. It does not include graduates working in other professional positions or those who choose part-time employment. UMass Law's Class of 2025 achieved an overall employment rate of 87%.

"This recognition reflects the remarkable progress UMass Law has made and the upward momentum we continue to see across the law school. We have strengthened the academic, experiential and career preparation our students receive, and those efforts are translating into meaningful opportunities for our graduates."

The progress is supported by UMass Law’s Office of Legal Career Services, led by Director Leslie Becker Wilson. This year, the National Association for Law Placement recognized Wilson with its Service Excellence Award for her contributions to the legal career services profession.

"Strong employment outcomes begin well before graduation," said Wilson. "We work closely with students throughout law school to help them identify their goals, gain meaningful experience, build professional relationships and confidently pursue the opportunities that are right for them."

The ranking adds to growing national recognition for UMass Law's career preparation and graduate outcomes. In 2026, preLaw magazine ranked UMass Law No. 69 nationally, No. 3 in Massachusetts and No. 7 in New England for practical training. Every UMass Law student is guaranteed a clinic or internship placement, providing opportunities to gain practical experience before graduation.

UMass Law also ranked No. 26 nationally—and No. 17 among public law schools—for public interest law employment in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The law school's clinics, field placements and partnerships with courts, government agencies, nonprofits and law firms help students explore career paths and build professional connections throughout their legal education.

The employment gains mirror UMass Law's enrollment growth as the third-fastest-growing law school in the United States over the past decade, according to ABA Standard 509 data. Together, that growth and continued improvement in graduate outcomes reflect UMass Law's upward momentum — educating more future attorneys, preparing them for successful careers, and expanding their ability to pursue justice in communities across the region and beyond.