The job numbers for the Class of 2023 are looking strong. Official numbers will be reported to the ABA after March 15, but here is a sneak peek of how last year’s graduating class faired in the job market.*
For the graduating class of 2023, at least 98.8% have secured employment within ten months of graduation—another strong year for Iowa Law grads. Iowa Law has seen near perfect job placement numbers over the last three years with 98.1% job placement in 2022, 99% job placement in 2021, and 100% job placement in 2020. These outcomes are among the best of law schools across the United States.
As usual, the State of Iowa was the most popular destination for graduates, with 46 students from the Class of 2023 accepting positions in Iowa after graduation. These graduates landed in 15 counties across Iowa. Far more Iowa Law graduates choose Iowa than any other state.
Employment by Location | State | Class of 2023* |
|---|---|---|
State – 1st Largest | Iowa | 46 |
State – 2nd Largest | Illinois | 19 |
State – 3rd Largest | Minnesota | 13 |
The Class of 2023 of the Writing Law School produced one of the largest classes of judicial clerks of any class in recent history. Twenty-one graduates earned prestigious clerkships in the state, with four at the Iowa Supreme Court, four at the Iowa Court of Appeals, nine at other state courts, and four in the United States District Courts in Iowa.
In a graduate spotlight, Kate Conlow (23JD) from Des Moines described her law school experience, passion for writing, and her path to a judicial clerkship. Conlow is currently clerking for Judge Michael Melloy (74JD) at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Graduates in Iowa began practice with various law firms in Des Moines, Davenport, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City, among others.
Outside of Iowa, graduates secured state and federal clerkships, jobs in Big Law and at small/medium sized firms, and government and public interest jobs in Minnesota, Illinois, New York, Washington D.C., Texas, Colorado, Arizona, California, and Missouri. Two students were employed in foreign countries.
In addition to Iowa, graduates earned federal and state judicial clerkships in Alaska, Minnesota, the Northern Marianas Islands, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Some students will likely return to Iowa after completing prestigious judicial clerkships elsewhere. Visit our website to see the full Clerkship Class of 2023.
Last year, job numbers for the Class of 2022 placed Iowa Law in the top 10 for job placement among law schools nationwide (Reuters).
Graduates have succeeded in the job market due to their talent and tenacity, the exceptional training they received at “the Writing Law School,” and the well-resourced career services team at Iowa Law.
*Reported data as of Monday, March 11. Final numbers will be reported to the ABA on March 15.