We have heard from many applicants this year who are concerned with the state of the economy and their job prospects coming out of Harvard. We asked Mark Weber, the Assistant Dean for Career Services who heads up the Office of Career Services (OCS), to weigh in:
Despite one of the most difficult job markets since the 1930s, between 93 and 95% of 3Ls will have secured jobs at graduation – this is substantially the same employment rate we have had for the past twenty years. Not surprisingly, it is abundantly clear that employers like hiring Harvard law students irrespective of the market conditions. Similarly, with the law school’s generous guaranteed summer public interest funding, we expect that most (if not all) 1Ls and 2Ls will secure summer employment opportunities.
Notwithstanding our strong employment figures, many 2010 graduates from Harvard, as well as every law school throughout the country, have offers without start dates or starting salaries. Many of the nation’s leading law firms deferred 2009 graduates, who have yet to start their jobs or who only recently started working, so 2010 graduates will most likely have 2011 start dates.
The good news, however, is that conditions are improving. Law firm layoffs have slowed down considerably during the past few months and firms that previously froze salaries have begun to unfreeze salaries and announce raises and/or year-end bonuses. While it is still too early to say that the market has turned, we are seeing a brighter picture and have identified two positive trends: (a) firms that did not recruit last year are returning to campus this fall; and (b) firms are increasing the numbers of interviews on their schedules, which should translate into even more opportunities for students participating in our recruitment programs next year.
