Career Paths
Duke Law School graduates are found around the globe working in capacities too numerous to mention both inside and outside of the legal profession. While some graduates remain with their first employer throughout their career, many Duke alumni will work for a number of different employers in different industries and in both legal and non-legal capacities as their careers progress.
What Can You Do With a Duke Law Degree?
Duke Law graduates find employment in all sectors of the legal profession. A typical class finds approximately 70 percent of students employed in private law firms, 18 percent serving as clerks for federal and state judges, and the remaining 12 percent employed by public interest organizations, government agencies, military JAG offices, and business enterprises. Several students will usually go on to earn other advanced degrees.
| Graduating Class | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 |
| Law Firm | 77.1% | 66.2% | 66.5% | 72.1% | 70.0% |
| Clerkship | 13.5% | 19.0% | 17.9% | 15.7% | 19.0% |
| Public Interest / Military / Govt. | 3.9% | 8.3% | 7.5% | 7.0% | 6.0% |
| Business | 4.0% | 6.0% | 5.7% | 2.6% | 2.0% |
| Academia | 1.3% | 0.5% | 1.9% | 0.4% | 1.0% |
| Advanced Degree | - | - | - | 6.0% | 1.0% |
| Not Specified | - | - | 0.5% | 2.2% | - |
The Career and Professional Development Center is eager to support students in whatever direction their career search takes them. Even when the Career Center Team may lack the subject matter expertise on your chosen areas, there is a high likelihood that they know an alumnus/a or colleague who has worked or is working in that area. Plus, many of the principles of the job search advocated by the Career Center Team daily apply to all careers. To get started, come by the Career Center and take a look at "1000 things you can do with a law degree" or set up a meeting with a counselor.
