Navigating Your Future: UCLA School of Law Employment Statistics and Career Pathways

UCLA School of Law consistently ranks among the top law schools in the United States, securing the #14 position nationally according to U.S. News & World Report. The school's commitment to providing students with the skills, training, and support necessary for securing excellent employment opportunities is evident in its graduates' impressive track record. This article delves into UCLA Law's employment statistics, career services, and the various factors contributing to its graduates' success in the legal job market.

A Strong Foothold in the Job Market

UCLA Law's Office of Career Services and Office of Public Interest Programs play a crucial role in helping graduates gain a solid foothold in the job market. The school offers numerous opportunities for graduates to launch their careers successfully, from on-campus interviews and career fairs to special panels with alumni on topics such as working on the East Coast or careers in national security.

Impressive Employment Rate

UCLA Law graduates have an excellent record of gaining employment. A remarkable 96.7 percent of the Class of 2024 attained full-time, long-term, bar passage required or J.D. advantage jobs within 10 months of graduation.

Employment by Category

Of the 343 graduates from Los Angeles School of Law, 330 were hired including 327 full-time and 3 part-time positions. 297 graduates got a job where bar passage required and 20 got J.D. advantage (or J.D. preferred) jobs where it does not require passage of the bar exam. Compared to law schools in California, its rate of employed is much higher than the average rate of 89.55%.

The below table summarizes the employment statistics by general position categories and employed stats for 343 graduates.

Total Graduates: 343
Bar Passage Required: 297 (86.59%)
J.D. Advantage: 20

Geographic Distribution of Employment

The majority of graduates (251) are employed by law firms or companies in California, where the Los Angeles School of Law is located. However, UCLA Law graduates are currently working in all 50 states and in 55 foreign nations.

Connecting Students with Employers

Connecting with employers through one-on-one counseling, panel presentations, workshops, recruitment programs and more, the Office of Career Services helps students and alumni create a proactive approach to career development and management. The office coordinates a number of programs that connect students with employers throughout the country. UCLA Law graduates join the largest law firms throughout the country and the world, as well as mid-sized and smaller firms. Graduates also work in business, government, judicial clerkships and public service positions.

Bar Passage Rates

UCLA Law boasts impressive bar passage rates, significantly outperforming the state average.

California Bar Exam: 93.6% of UCLA Law graduates who took the July 2024 California Bar Exam for the first time passed the examination. This is significantly higher than the statewide average bar passage rate of 81% for first-time test takers from ABA-approved law schools in California.
New York Bar Exam: For UCLA Law graduates taking the July 2024 New York Bar Exam, the passage rate was 97.9% for first-time test takers.
UCLA Law ranks #18 in terms of bar passage rate among first-time test takers (94.2%), and it outperforms by +15.4% the state of California's overall bar passage rate of 78.9%.

Factors Contributing to Employment Success

Several factors contribute to UCLA Law graduates' impressive employment outcomes:

Academic Excellence: UCLA Law ranks #14 in GPA composite (3.89), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile GPAs (3.73 · 3.95 · 4.00). UCLA Law ranks #18 in LSAT composite (169.7), an average of its 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile LSAT scores (166 · 171 · 172).
Comprehensive Career Services: The Office of Career Services provides extensive support to students, including one-on-one counseling, resume and cover letter workshops, mock interviews, and networking opportunities.
Strong Alumni Network: UCLA Law has a vast and active alumni network that provides valuable connections and mentorship opportunities for current students.
Location in Los Angeles: As the top-ranked law school in one of the world’s most exciting cities, UCLA Law presents outstanding opportunities for students who want to build their careers here. Many employers in Los Angeles, including large law firms, look to UCLA Law as a primary feeder school from which they recruit talent for their summer associate and associate programs.
Commitment to Public Interest: With the assistance of the Office of Public Interest Programs and the Office of Career Services, UCLA Law graduates have secured sought after public interest positions, including the Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Gideon’s Promise, Immigrant Justice Corps, and Justice Catalyst fellowships. Because of the school’s great commitment to public interest law and public service, each year UCLA Law directly funds post-graduate opportunities for students pursuing public interest positions.
Experiential Learning: UCLA Law is a national leader in experiential education. Over the past 50 years, our robust Experiential Education Program has expanded and evolved to introduce students to law practice through an awe-inspiring range of law clinic and practicum courses, intensive simulation courses and externship and field placement opportunities.

The UCLA Law Experience: Academics, Community, and Location

UCLA School of Law is a community within the beautiful and dynamic 419-acre UCLA campus. Founded in 1919, UCLA has over 46,000 undergraduate and graduate students, nearly 5,500 faculty members and more than 660,000 alumni. UCLA Law students benefit from the rich and diverse intellectual environment, unparalleled opportunities for interdisciplinary work, access to leading legal scholars and practitioners and an engaged and active student community.

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Academics and Faculty

UCLA School of Law professors are renowned leaders in their respective fields and are some of the finest teachers in the academy, expanding the frontiers of interdisciplinary legal scholarship. Faculty members are dedicated to teaching, and they show a genuine interest in their students by engaging with them in class, at lunch and during office hours; and by going out of their way to help students prepare for and gain employment, clerkships, fellowships and other opportunities.

Each year, members of the UCLA Law faculty publish groundbreaking scholarship in books, leading academic journals and law reviews, and are cited by media around the world for their expertise. Students in the J.D. program may specialize in one of the areas below and earn a certificate of completion. To meet a growing need for tailored legal expertise, UCLA offers distinctive areas of specialization that permit students to benefit from the expertise of our renowned faculty.

Community and Student Life

A collegial environment at UCLA Law also affords students many opportunities for participation and leadership. Our approximately 65 student organizations and journals allow you to make a difference, build professional connections and form lasting bonds with peers. The Moot Court Honors Program is open to all second- and third-year students and offers a large and effective program of mock appellate advocacy. UCLA Law’s student body is composed of a diverse group of future lawyers reflecting a broad range of backgrounds and experiences. We are immensely proud of our racial diversity and long-standing commitment to diversity in legal education. Our students find a home on campus or in one of the many attractive neighborhoods nearby.

Location

Located in Westwood, a lovely and safe residential neighborhood a short distance from the Pacific Ocean, Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles, UCLA is one of the leading research institutions and best public universities in the world. One of the world’s most exciting places to live, Los Angeles offers a rich artistic, social and cultural scene, with unparalleled access to world-class museums, theaters, sporting events and live performances. The extraordinary climate allows students to enjoy recreational activities from surfing to skiing, mountain biking to hiking, all year long. Los Angeles also boasts a thriving food scene, from gourmet food trucks to numerous ethnic restaurants, with options to suit every budget. L.A. is a place where creativity and new ideas flourish, where a robust economy connects to every continent, and where the most important legal issues of our time emerge and take form. Working toward a law degree here gives students the opportunity to use the city as a legal laboratory, where every conceivable legal issue is in play.

Admissions Information

UCLA School of Law seeks to admit students of outstanding intellectual ability who will bring a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to the classroom and the legal profession. The school employs a holistic admissions process, evaluating academic records, test scores, leadership experiences, and contributions to diversity and public service.

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Application Requirements

Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution prior to enrollment. International students must demonstrate English proficiency through standardized tests such as the TOEFL or IELTS unless their undergraduate degree was earned in an English-speaking country. All applicants for Fall 2026 should take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) or the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) no later than January 31, 2026, if applying regular decision.

Holistic Review

In evaluating each applicant, the School of Law places substantial weight on traditional measures of academic ability, namely grades and standardized test scores, specifically Law School Admission Test (LSAT) scores and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores. We also recognize in our evaluation that other factors and attributes contribute greatly to a person's ability to succeed as a law student and lawyer. The School of Law also considers attributes that may contribute to assembling a diverse class. We place special emphasis on socioeconomic disadvantage in our evaluation. We also consider work experience and career achievement, community orpublic service, career goals (with particular attention paid to the likelihood of the applicant representing underrepresented communities), significant hardships overcome, the ability to contribute to law school programs and specializations, evidence of and potential for leadership, language ability, unusual life experiences, and any other factors (except those factors deemed inadmissible by applicable law) that indicate the applicant may significantly diversify the student body or make a distinctive contribution to the School of Law or the legal profession.

Key Application Components

Personal Statement: The personal statement is a critical component of the UCLA Law application. Applicants are prompted to discuss what motivates them to pursue a career in law.
Letters of Recommendation: Applicants must submit at least two letters of recommendation, though up to four are allowed. These letters should ideally come from professors, advisors, or professional supervisors who are well-acquainted with the applicant’s achievements and potential to succeed in a rigorous academic environment.
Resume: A well-structured resume showcasing academic achievements, leadership roles, professional experience, and extracurricular involvement is crucial for UCLA Law applications.
Transfer Applicants: UCLA Law accepts transfer students who have completed their first year at an ABA-accredited law school. Transfer applicants must have successfully completed an entire first-year curriculum at another American Bar Association (ABA)-approved law school. UCLA will award a maximum of 39 credits earned at another institution. Transfer students must spend four (4) full-time semesters at UCLA School of Law upon transferring. Students from law schools that are only state-approved are not eligible for admission. To be considered, transfer applicants must have a strong academic record, often ranking in the top third of their class. The transfer application process includes submitting a letter of good standing, first-year transcripts, and, in some cases, class rank.

Tips for a Successful Application

Craft a Compelling Narrative: Use your personal statement and supplemental essays to tell a story that connects your unique experiences, achievements, and goals to UCLA Law’s mission and programs. Highlight how specific aspects of UCLA Law, such as its emphasis on clinical legal education, environmental law, or public interest law, align with your career aspirations.
Build Strong Relationships with Recommenders: Select recommenders who know you well and can provide detailed and personalized endorsements. Ensure they highlight your intellectual capabilities, leadership qualities, and potential for success at UCLA Law.
Optimize Your LSAT/GRE Prep: A competitive LSAT or GRE score is essential for admission to UCLA Law. Focus on identifying and improving your weaker areas through targeted practice and preparation. Take full-length practice tests under realistic conditions to track your progress and build stamina. Consider investing in a reputable test prep course or working with a tutor to maximize your performance.
Showcase Unique Experiences: UCLA Law values diverse perspectives and experiences, so use your application to highlight what makes you unique. Whether it’s a professional achievement, volunteer work, or an unconventional career path, demonstrate how your background adds value to the UCLA Law community.
Demonstrate Genuine Interest in UCLA Law: Research UCLA Law’s programs, clinics, and faculty, and mention specific opportunities that resonate with your career goals. For example, if you’re interested in corporate law, reference UCLA’s Business Law and Policy program. If your passion lies in public service, highlight the school’s robust public interest law opportunities.

Financial Aid and Post-Graduate Support

UCLA Law recognizes that financing a legal education is a significant undertaking. The school offers a variety of financial aid options, including scholarships and loans.

Scholarships

In determining scholarship amounts, both merit and financial need can be considered. In order for financial need to be considered, students must complete the UCLA Law Need Application. The law school Need Application is made available to students upon admission. UCLA Law offers a number of full tuition scholarships.

Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP)

UCLA Law maintains a competitive Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) for graduates working in the public interest. Under the School’s LRAP, administered by the Office of Financial Aid, graduates can apply to have a portion - and in some cases all - of the debt service on loans they incurred while at UCLA Law subject to a forgivable loan from the school.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition information for California residents and non-residents can be found at law.ucla.edu/admissions/tuition-fees. Non-resident students must meet eligibility requirements to be considered for resident classification. Most non-resident law students achieve residency status during the second year of law school.

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