Career Paths

New Opportunities in the Legal Job Market

The recession of the late 2000s and its lingering effects are responsible for a national decrease in hiring of attorneys. Despite this, approximately 89 percent of Vermont Law School's 2010 JD graduates were employed within nine months of graduation, including 28 percent as new attorneys in law firms, 19 percent in government positions, 16 percent in business, 15 percent in judicial clerkships and 14 percent in public interest work.

These numbers reflect the fact that an increasing number of our students now have career interests that range far beyond traditional positions in law firms. As these students define their own success and move to become change agents in diverse situations, their career opportunities have grown and the paths to the career they seek have grown exponentially. We encourage all of our students to take a long view of their futures and anticipate several steps and several jobs on their way to their chosen career.

One consistent factor is that our graduates seek—and find—work that parallels the well-known strengths of our curriculum and our connections in the working world. Successful students take the initiative to build relationships with our faculty and alumni to create powerful networks that will serve them throughout their lives.

Office of Career Services

Vermont Law School works with every student from the day of enrollment until he or she has a full-time job. Our Office of Career Services operates as a clearinghouse for information on professional and experiential opportunities for students throughout law school. The office also provides tools for résumé and interview preparation and supports students as they research and apply for internships and summer jobs and explore a range of postgraduate placements.