Figures released Wednesday by the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) show that more than 94 percent of white law graduates secured employment within 10 months of graduation, compared with fewer than 91 percent of graduates of color, Reuters reports.
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Black law graduates recorded the lowest employment rate among the major racial groups, at 87 percent, declining from nearly 90 percent in 2024.
The employment rate for Hispanic law graduates also fell, reaching slightly above 91 percent compared with more than 92 percent the previous year.
Meanwhile, employment among Asian law graduates remained relatively stable at approximately 92 percent.
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander graduates, who represented a comparatively small group, recorded the highest employment rate at more than 96 percent.
NALP Executive Director Nikia Gray expressed concern over the findings, emphasizing that obtaining a law degree does not guarantee equal access to professional opportunities across racial groups.
The report comes amid significant changes in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies across the United States following President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
The Trump administration has pursued measures to eliminate DEI initiatives in higher education, government institutions and private businesses, affecting recruitment and diversity policies within the legal profession.
In March 2025, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission requested detailed hiring information from 20 major law firms, including applicant identities and whether race or gender had influenced recruitment decisions.
The Federal Trade Commission also warned 42 major law firms earlier this year that certain hiring practices could potentially violate federal antitrust laws.
Diversity Lab, an organization that had promoted diversity initiatives within the legal industry, ceased operations in June following regulatory scrutiny.
A Reuters investigation found that numerous prominent US law firms had removed or modified public references to DEI commitments following the administration’s policy changes.
Nearly 50 law firms that had previously submitted demographic information about their lawyers to NALP declined to provide such data this year. NALP attributed the decline to the administration’s campaign against DEI initiatives in the legal sector.
Separately, the US Department of Education is preparing to revoke the American Bar Association’s status as the federally recognized accrediting body for US law schools, partly over concerns that the organization did not remove diversity-related accreditation standards quickly enough.
The latest NALP figures also revealed disparities in access to positions requiring admission to the bar, widely regarded as a key benchmark for legal employment.
White graduates secured these positions at higher rates than graduates from every other racial group except those identifying as Middle Eastern or North African.
The report further found that first-generation college graduates experienced lower employment rates than law graduates whose parents had attended college or law school.
The findings highlight persistent differences in early career outcomes across racial and educational backgrounds within the US legal profession.
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