Writ 2010 - Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law

COLLEGE UPDATES
Despite these hard economic times, Ohio Northern
University College of Law Graduates Surpass the
National Employment Rate Eight Years in a Row.
By Cheryl A. Kitchen, director of law alumni and career services
The 2009 national Employment Report was released in June
2010 from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP),
with an overall national rate of 88% employed nine months
after graduation. Ohio Northern’s employment rate for the class
of 2009 was 94%.
marked the 37th consecutive year
2009that NALP, the National
Association for Law Placement, compiled annual
statistics on the employment rate of law graduates
throughout the United States. Nationally,
for the past eight years, the ONU College of
Law employment rate has been higher than the
national average. The 2009 National
Employment report was released in June 2010
from the National Association for Law
Placement (NALP), with an overall national rate
of 88% employed nine months after graduation.
Ohio Northern’s employment rate for the Class
of 2009 was 94%.
The legal job market continues to be in what
some call a “crisis,” but even in a crisis situation
there are opportunities that may arise. Indeed, in
this economic downturn, we are forced to sift
through and sort out what we think will solve
this crisis in the employment world. What Ohio
Northern has always had is a strong connection
to its alumni, which continues to be our most
powerful marketing agent for our students.
As alumni, you are our connection to
employment for the students. With the help of
our alumni, our students will be able to survive
this economic crisis and forge ahead to a successful
legal career. The many ways in which you
could help include mentoring a student, speaking
on a panel, networking with students or
being a resource for a student in your practice,
setting or geographical location.
Although we continue to report a slight
increase in our employment statistics over the
national average, 2010 is going to be a very difficult
year in the legal market. ONU Law’s
employment rate is due to the hard work and
tenacity of the students, along with the help and
support of the faculty and alumni and the continued
efforts of the Career Services Office.
These efforts, along with the current employment
success of our alumni, continue to help
strengthen the status of the law school among
employers and increase the demand for our stu-
Nationally, for the past eight
years, the ONU College of
Law employment rate has
been higher than the
national average.
dents. The growing recognition of the quality of
our students is demonstrated by the increasing
number of employers using the Career Services
Office to recruit students. In the 2009-10 school
year, over 600 employers from across the country
posted job announcements with our office.
These employers come from all segments of the
legal profession including federal judges, The
American Lawyer’s 100 top corporate firms, government
agencies, public interest organizations
and corporations. Our students represent over
30 states and their job searches span nationwide.
The placement statistics for the Class of 2009
show the diversity of employment not only in
the areas of the legal practice, but also in the
employment of our students throughout the
country.
AREAS OF THE COUNTRY
Mid-Atlantic...............................................13%
East North Central .....................................74%
South Atlantic...............................................4%
East South Central........................................6%
Mountain .....................................................3%
Even though the legal market has had a significant
downturn, we continue to have success
in our placement rate. We still need to draw
upon our alumni network to uncover job leads
for our students and graduates.
16 OHIO NORTHERN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW | Writ WINTER 2010
Class of 2009
AREAS OF PRACTICE
Private Practice ...........50%
Business ......................13%
Government .................12%
Judicial Clerkships .........8%
Other .............................8%
Public Interest ...............5%
Academic ...................... 4%
What Ohio Northern has always
had is a strong connection to its
alumni, which continues to be
our most powerful marketing
agent for our students.
If you can assist us in uncovering job leads
for our students and graduates,
please let us know. You can do this by calling
(419) 772-2249, faxing (419) 772-1487, or
emailing the Office of Career Services at
lawcareer@onu.edu