The legal profession’s booming job market in 2023 failed to close the racial and ethnic employment gaps, with new data released by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) revealing persistent disparities in legal job opportunities, particularly for graduates of color.
While the overall job market for new law graduates surged to historic highs, with 92.6% of graduates securing employment within 10 months—a notable increase from previous years—racial and ethnic disparities remained pronounced. Data shows that minority groups, despite gains in employment, continued to face significant challenges in securing legal positions that require bar admission, often seen as the benchmark for a successful legal career.
Among white law graduates, 84% obtained bar passage-required jobs, a figure that dropped to 73% for Black and Native American or Alaska Native graduates. Latino law graduates also lagged behind their white peers, with only 80% securing similar roles—four percentage points lower than their white counterparts. Asian law graduates saw slightly higher rates at 81%, but Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander graduates had the lowest bar passage-required employment rate at just 67%.
These disparities were even more pronounced in clerkships, where graduates of color, making up a third of the class of 2023, secured only 25% of all clerkships, and a mere 24% of federal clerkships.
“These numbers highlight the systemic inequities that continue to impede equitable employment outcomes for graduates of color,” said Nikia Gray, Executive Director of NALP. “While the legal profession’s job market is stronger than ever, it is clear that efforts to address discrimination and dismantle these barriers are far from over.”
Gray’s statement comes at a critical time, as calls to disrupt discriminatory practices are becoming more urgent in the face of growing opposition. NALP has been tracking employment data for new law graduates for over 50 years, but it was only in 2020 that the organization began publicly reporting data by race and ethnicity, specifically to shine a light on these ongoing disparities.
In 2023, the legal industry saw the lowest unemployment rate for new law graduates since 2007—at 5.8%—but despite these gains, the data underscores a need for continued and focused efforts to achieve racial equity in the profession.
Although legal employment has improved overall, the gaps in opportunities that require bar admission—often viewed as the gold standard for legal careers—are stark. White graduates consistently outpaced their Black, Latino, and Native American peers in securing these sought-after positions, signaling that systemic barriers remain deeply embedded within the legal sector.
The disparities also extend to clerkships, one of the most prestigious career paths for law graduates. The fact that graduates of color, despite representing a third of the 2023 class, secured only 25% of clerkships further demonstrates that inequities persist throughout the hiring process in the legal field.
The NALP’s findings are a stark reminder of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that all law graduates have equal access to opportunities within the legal profession. As the industry continues to thrive, the push for diversity, equity, and inclusion remains critical to ensuring that these gains are felt across all demographic groups.
“Efforts to combat these inequities are increasingly under attack, but we must remain steadfast in advocating for systemic change,” Gray added. “It’s crucial that the legal community continues to push for equitable outcomes and opportunities for every graduate, regardless of race or ethnicity.”
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