Recent law grads change jobs at high rates but fewer are looking to leave, study finds

Law school graduates three years out are changing jobs at high rates, still carrying substantial debt and widely using AI at work, according to a new study of law school alumni released Tuesday by The NALP Foundation and the National Association for Law Placement (NALP).

The 13th annual Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study surveyed 1,302 alumni who graduated from 26 U.S. law schools in 2022 and are now roughly three years into their careers. It found that nearly two-thirds -- 63% -- have already held two or more positions since graduating. But the share actively seeking a new job fell to 11%, the lowest level the study has ever recorded, down from 13% among those who graduated from 2019 through 2021 and a historical range of 17% to 24%.

"The continued high mobility of recent graduates is one of the report's most significant findings. Early-career lawyers are changing jobs at unprecedented rates, making the ability to practice in different jurisdictions an increasingly important component of long-term career success. As the legal profession continues to examine accreditation and licensure, these findings underscore the importance of maintaining a national accreditation system that supports reciprocity and enables lawyers to pursue opportunities wherever their careers take them," said NALP Executive Director Nikia Gray.

Graduates' average debt load fell for the third consecutive year to $81,876, down from $88,669 among 2021 graduates and $95,286 among those who graduated in 2020. The study found debt affects graduates' job choices, major life decisions, personal lives and mental health and well-being, with the impact increasing measurably with debt load.

Compensation remained sharply stratified by firm size. Among graduates at the largest firms, 82% reported annual compensation over $200,000, compared with 59% at mid-sized firms of 251 to 500 lawyers and 12% at the smallest firms.

For the first time, the study asked graduates about their use of and preparation in AI during law school and in their current roles. Most alumni reported using AI tools in some way: 48% do so "frequently" or "occasionally," either as an essential part of their daily work or for specific tasks or projects, while 30% said they "rarely" use them despite having access. Only 22% said they "never" use AI tools in their current roles.

On work location, 42% of employed graduates reported working fully in the office, up from 35% among those who graduated a year earlier. More than half -- 58% -- worked either fully remotely or on a hybrid schedule, though hybrid arrangements declined to 50% from 57% among prior graduating classes. Hybrid rates increased with firm size, and graduates reported high overall job satisfaction across all three work arrangements.

"The study's data illuminates an evolving career path for recent graduates, characterized by high mobility, adoption of AI, and hybrid work environments, but also affected professionally and personally by the significant debt they've incurred to attend law school," said NALP Foundation President and CEO Fiona Trevelyan.

The study also examined the timing and drivers of career aspiration shifts during law school, student debt and loan forgiveness, professional identity formation, the timing of post-graduate recruitment and engagement preferences. Data was collected between November 2025 and January 2026.