AJD Wave III
April 12, 2017
After the JD
Data collection for Wave III of AJD occured in 2012 and was completed in early 2013. Data analysis on this rich sample continues, and a capstone book project is now underway on the findings from the first three waves. Recent findings include:
- Lawyers are moving away from private practice, toward business (both as inside counsel and in non-law positions). In 2003 only 8.4% were working in the business sector; by 2012 that figure jumped to 20%. Meanwhile, the percentage of lawyers working in private practice declined from 68.8 % to 44.1% over the same period.
- The gender pay gap persists. In 2012, female respondents working full time earned 80% of the pay reported by male respondents.
- The gender gap in attaining partnership persists. In 2012, 52.3% of female respondents working in law firms were partners, compared with 68.8% of male respondents. Of partners, 65.5% of men were equity partners compared with 53% of women.
- Overall, 40.8% of respondents said that the economic downturn of 2008-09 had no noticeable effect on their careers.
- 76% of respondents indicated they were “moderately” or “extremely” satisfied with their decision to become a lawyer. When asked whether law school was a “good career investment,” on a 1 to 7 scale, with 4 meaning “neither agree nor disagree,” the mean score was 5.46, indicating a relatively positive assessment.
The Wave III public and restricted datasets are available to researchers as of November 2014.
Data (ICPSR): After the JD, Wave 3: A Longitudinal Study of Careers in Transition, 2012-2013
Report (NALP): After the JD III