St. Mary’s University School of Law is among the best in the nation for post-law school employment, according to the Wall Street Journal’s analysis of employment data for 2011 law school graduates.

St. Mary’s reported that 78 percent of its law school graduates are in full-time long-term jobs that require a law license within nine months of graduation. Across the nation, schools reported that only 55 percent of the Class of 2011 was similarly employed. The data was compiled by the American Bar Association; it was the first time the ABA gathered such detailed employment information on recent graduates.

Of note, St. Mary’s was one of a handful of unranked schools that posted full-time employment numbers so high in this analysis. Law School Dean Charles E. Cantu credited the “energy and innovative ideas” of those in the Office of Career Services, the efforts of alumni chapters to serve as mentors to St. Mary’s law students, and the robust internship programs available to students.

Even in the current economic downturn, the School of Law has capitalized on the existing job market by preparing students for small firm and solo practice by creating inter-session courses on practical lawyering skills that ready graduates for immediate practice as well as offering career development programming and partnering with the San Antonio Bar Association’s strong mentoring program. The Office of Career Services initiated a unique small firm program that grants small firm practitioners additional opportunities to interview and network with students twice a year.

Faye Bracey, Assistant Dean of Career Services, attributes the numbers to student engagement. “Our students are taking advantage of all the opportunities and training provided to them and are working hard to network and land summer jobs, internships and clerkships that potentially lead to full-time employment,” Bracey said.

Read the Wall Street Journal article.

View the complete ABA Employment Summary.

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