Clarification of 2022 U.S. News Employment Data

The 2022 U.S. News & World Report display of employment at 10 months after graduation is misleading because U.S. News failed to include school-funded jobs, such as our Public Service Fellowships, in its employment percentage. Under the ABA standards, the percentage of 2019 graduates employed 10 months after graduation is 87.94 percent.

Founded on the principles of experiential learning, interdisciplinary studies, and a commitment to public service, UCI Law students graduate with the intent and commitment to pursue a variety of professional goals. We are proud of all we do to extend our commitment to public service beyond the three years of law school through our Public Service Fellowship program.

Seven graduates from the class of 2019 (4.96 percent of the class) launched public service careers through a UCI Law Public Service Fellowship. These students were not included in the U.S. News employment percentage.

Class of 2019 Fellows held a variety of positions around the country, including at ACLU Foundation of Southern California, Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County, and Al Otro Lado. The disconnect between actual employment outcomes available to and attained by graduates and the U.S. News display of employment “success” is not a new phenomenon, nor is it wholly unique to UCI Law. Yale Law School also recognized the problematic discounting of weight provided by U.S. News to public interest fellowships.

Employment opportunities available to graduates should be a factor in deciding where to attend law school. UCI Law is proud of the ability to support students in the launch of public interest careers and urges prospective students to review our complete statistics on employment and that of other law schools under consideration, rather than relying on a single incomplete source.

Jasminder Deol
Assistant Dean for Career Development