Private Practice
The majority of Duke Law School graduates choose to launch their careers working for a private law firm. In fact, Duke Law students are heavily recruited by leading national and international law firms. Much of the law firm hiring is done during "Fall OCI," or on-campus interviewing in August/September of the 2L year. For those interested in private practice, students frequently will return to their 2L summer employer following graduation. For statistics regarding the employment and career choices of Duke graduates, click here.
At the same time, a number of our graduates choose to start with smaller firms in cities around the country. Students at Duke Law participate in and are often successful at many of job fairs around the country, such as the North Carolina Small Employers Job Fair or the Southeastern Minority Job Fair (SEMJF).
We strongly encourage students to do their own research and to initiate contact with law firms that are not participating in OCI or in other job fairs.
Duke students are also fortunate in that opportunities to meet with private practice lawyers abound outside of the interview context. Private law firms often host receptions to which they invite law students; they sponsor events and programs and send firm representatives; lawyers participate on panels or guest lecture; many of our alumni in private practice return for work or for reunions; and the list goes on. Often, relationships formed here lead to future employment or collaboration.
Over time, a large number of Duke Law School graduates choose to change law firms, move in-house, join the federal or a state government, switch to the business side, join a non-profit organization, or to exit the practice entirely. At the same time, a number of our graduates follow the more "traditional" route and choose to remain and grow into a leadership position with the law firm they join upon graduation.
