Law students' shifting career goals tied to changing interests, compensation, NALP study finds
More than 40% of 2021 graduates shifted their career goals during law school, prompted by changing interests and compensation issues, according to a Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study.
The study, conducted by the National Association for Law Placement and the NALP Foundation and released Tuesday, collected data from 1,235 graduates from the class of 2021 from 27 U.S and two Canadian law schools between November 2024 and January 2025. It found 42% of students redirected their career intentions during law school, with 46% of those students saying the change occurred during or immediately after their second year.
Of those who shifted focus, 62% cited that their job interests changed and 38% cited compensation as their motivation to change, according to the survey.
More than half—65%—of the graduates reported having changed jobs at least once, a decrease from 70% a year earlier survey. Only 13% said they were actively looking for a new job, the study found.
Also, 57% of those who were employed worked in a hybrid situation, according to the survey, with 39% of those people in the office three days a week. About one-third, or 31%, reported that their organization did not have a set number of in-office days.
The average debt load three years after graduation was $88,669, a figure that weighed on their mental health and well-being and impacted the graduate’s job choices, the study found.
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