The Professional Development Office is proud to assist our students and graduates find meaningful career opportunities across the state, the country, and the world. Our students gain work experience and alumni practice law throughout the region, Pennsylvania, in all 50 states and in foreign countries. You will find Pitt Law students and alumni in a variety of employment settings, including law firms, government, higher education, the judiciary, business, and public service.
Making the Right Decision
Whether you are interested in attending Pitt Law, are currently enrolled in our curriculum, or hiring one of our students or graduates, the PDO office wants to ensure you have the access to our most relevant data.
Reported Employment Data
In compliance with the guidelines established by the American Bar Association (ABA), the body that accredits and oversees law schools, each year we gather employment datafor our most recent graduates, and report this information to the ABA. ABA Employment Summaries in PDF Format:
Information on employment outcomes for the Class of 2020 may not reflect a particular law school’s typical results in this area. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, bar admission exams were canceled or delayed in many jurisdictions, thus making it more challenging for graduates to secure employment by the annual Graduate Employment Status Date of March 15. Please reference the 3 years of employment outcome data posted on the ABA Required Disclosures webpage of each ABA-Approved Law School or at www.abarequireddisclosures.org.
Most Recent Employment Data for the Class of 2019:
For the University of Pittsburgh School of Law faculty and staff, the career outcomes of our students are the highest priority. Of the 142 total graduates of the Class of 2020, 87.32% (124) secured and began their employment by the end of the reporting period.
Additionally, for the Class of 2020:
- 54.83% (68) of employed graduates from the Class of 2020 are employed in the private sector. Of those, 39.70% (27) are employed in law firms of 101+ attorneys and 29.41% (20) are working in international and national law firms of 500+ attorneys.
- 18.54% (23) of employed graduates from the Class of 2020 are employed in public interest and government sectors.
- 16.12% (20) of employed graduates from the Class of 2020 are employed in the business or industry sectors.
- 8.87% (11) of employed graduates from the Class of 2020 are employed in federal and state clerkships.
- Examples of law firms employing members of the Class of 2020 include: Ballard Spahr; Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney; Burns White; Dentons, Clark Hill; Cohen & Grigsby; Dickie McCamey & Chilcote; Dickinson Wright; Dinsmore & Shohl; Eckert Seamans; Fox Rothschild; Jackson Lewis; K&L Gates; Jones Day; Leech Tishman; McGuireWoods; Ogletree Deakins; Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe; Reed Smith; Schnader, Harrison, Segal & Lewis; Troutman Pepper Hamilton; Webb Law Firm; and many more.
- Corporations which hired members of the Class of 2020 include ACA Compliance Group; Allegheny Health Network; BNY Mellon; Crown Castle; Deloitte; KPMG; Range Resources; Schneider Downs & Co.; and UPMC.
- Graduates are practicing with governmental agencies including District Attorney Offices; Public Defender offices; U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ);U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS); and Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps);
- Graduates who entered the public interest sector are practicing with organizations including Education Law Center; Allegheny County Bar Foundation, Juvenile Court Project; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA); and Neighborhood Legal Services.
Per Interpretation 509-2 of Standard 509, law schools may choose to publicize additional employment outcome data beyond what the Employment Protocols require. This additional data, per Standard 509, must be “complete, accurate, and not misleading to a reasonable law school student or applicant.” Law schools are expected to use “due
diligence in obtaining and verifying such information.” The following additional employment outcome data has not been, and will not be, audited by the ABA. It is meant to supplement the annual ABA Employment Summary Report, which reflects the employment status of members of each graduating class as of the annual Graduate Employment Status Date of March 15. Please reference the 3 years of employment outcome data posted on the ABA Required Disclosures webpage of each ABA-Approved Law School or at www.abarequireddisclosures.org.