NALP Bulletin, November 2005
NALP's practice of benchmarking the staffing and facilities of law school career services offices dates almost as far back as NALP itself. The oldest such effort existing in NALP's archives, entitled the Law School Placement Personnel Survey, was published in May 1975, and covered the 1974-75 academic year. The 1975 document, compiled by a NALP volunteer, typed on a typewriter, with supplemental lines and boxes drawn in by hand, reported findings based on about half of the 108 law schools that were NALP members at the time.
Though many things in the world have changed in the 30+ years since the 1974-75 report, including the number of law schools and law students and the scope of career services activities, the need for benchmarking has not changed.
Thus, NALP continues to survey law school career services offices about
staffing and facilities on a biennial basis. The complete 2005 report is
available to members as a PDF download.
Career Services — 1995-2005
|
1975 |
1986 |
1995 |
2005 | |
|
% of offices with only one professional staff member |
75% |
68% |
46% |
25% |
|
% of offices with two or fewer professional staff members |
100% |
94% |
78% |
54% |
|
% of primary professionals with a JD or LLB |
37% |
40% |
51% |
78% |
|
% of primary professionals in current job less than two years |
61% |
17% |
26% |
24% |
|
% of primary professionals in current job five or more years |
13% |
32% |
41% |
46% |
|
Median salary for primary professional |
$12,000* |
$29,000* |
$44,200 |
$70,000 |
|
Number of schools responding to survey** |
56 |
101 |
136 |
159 |
Note: The 1974-75 survey did not distinguish between "primary" and
"second" professionals when tabulating education, experience levels, and
salaries. Since a number of these second individuals were described as
secretaries or administrative assistants, figures may be somewhat deflated.
However, the vast majority of individuals covered by the survey, about 80%, were
the primary, and only, individual in the office.
* Salary median is estimated, as salary information was reported in ranges.
** Number shown is number of surveys received. The number of responses to specific questions may be less.
