Harvard Law Grads See Rise In Starting Pay

An analysis of Harvard Law School’s Class of 2012 employment outcomes, highlighting average starting salaries and career paths.

Pay

The average starting salary for Harvard Law School graduates in 2012 was $116,053, a 2.7% increase from the Class of 2011’s $112,975 but still below the $119,685 average from two years prior.

• Private practice (law firms): $154,092 (up from $150,588 in 2011)
• Business and industry: $116,582 (down from $133,854 in 2011)
• Judicial clerkships: $58,849 (similar to $57,342 in 2011)
• Government: $58,604 (up from $57,533 in 2011)
• Public interest: $42,850 (up from $39,870 in 2011)
• Education: $38,571 (lowest reported average)

Employment Distribution

• Law firms: 57.75% of graduates (down from 62.66% in 2010)
• Judicial clerkships: 23.06% (up from 21.9% in 2010)
• Business and industry: 4.93% (up from 2.87% in 2010)

Employment Rate

92.27% of the Class of 2012 were employed nine months after graduation, compared to 95.54% in 2011 and 94.57% in 2010.