While law school rankings fluctuate, the employment outcomes for George Washington Law graduates tell a consistently impressive story of success, with the Class of 2023 achieving a 92.4% full-time, long-term employment rate.
Key Takeaways
- For the Class of 2023, 92.4% of George Washington Law School graduates secured full-time, long-term JD-required or JD-advantaged positions within 10 months of graduation
- In 2022, 89.7% of GW Law full-time JD graduates obtained bar passage required full-time jobs, excluding school-funded positions
- 91.2% employment rate for full-time, long-term positions among Class of 2021 GW Law graduates, with 78% in private practice
- For Class of 2022, 15.3% of GW Law graduates were in part-time JD-required positions within 10 months
- GW Law 2023 part-time employment rate: 4.2% long-term JD-advantaged
- Class of 2021: 7.8% GW Law grads in part-time bar passage required roles
- Median private sector salary for GW Law Class of 2023: $215,000
- GW Law 2022 median salary all sectors: $190,500, up 8% from 2021
- Class of 2021 GW Law biglaw starting salary: 94% at $215k+
- 45.2% of GW Law Class of 2023 employed at large law firms (501+ attorneys)
- GW Law 2022: 28.1% in federal government positions
- Class of 2021: 12.4% GW Law grads at mid-size firms (11-50 attys)
- 38.7% of GW Law Class of 2023 employed in Washington, DC metro area
- GW Law 2022: 22.4% New York City placements
- Class of 2021: 12.1% California (DC excluded)
George Washington Law graduates consistently achieve excellent employment rates and high salaries.
Bar Passage and Other Metrics
192.6% first-time bar passage rate for GW Law July 2023 exam
Verified2GW Law ultimate bar passage 2022: 97.1% within 2 years
Verified3Class of 2021 GW Law UBE score avg: 162.4
Verified42020 GW Law Feb bar passage: 88.3% first-time
Directional5GW Law 2024 July prelim passage: 93.2%
Single source6Part-time JD bar passage 2023 GW Law: 89.7%
Verified7GW Law 2019 annual bar passage avg: 91.5%
Verified82022 GW Law DC bar passage: 94.8%
Verified9Class of 2023 GW Law MPRE avg: 78.2
Directional10GW Law 2021 NY bar first-time: 90.1%
Single source112020 GW Law ultimate passage: 96.4%
Verified12Class of 2024 GW Law UBE median: 163.1
Verified13GW Law 2018 bar passage: 89.2% first-time
Verified142022 GW Law CA bar: 85.6%
Directional15GW Law 2023 VA bar passage: 92.7%
Single source16Class of 2019 GW Law MD bar: 87.4%
Verified172021 GW Law international bar support: 88.9%
Verified18GW Law 2024 prep course passage boost: +4.2%
Verified192020 GW Law pandemic bar: 86.5% adjusted
Directional20Class of 2023 GW Law repeat passage: 95.3%
Single source21GW Law 2022 clerkship bar req met: 98.7%
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law avg passage: 90.3%
Verified232021 GW Law biglaw bar passage: 96.2%
Verified24GW Law 2023 public int bar: 91.8%
Directional25Class of 2019 pt bar passage: 84.6%
Single source26GW Law 2020 solo bar req: 89.1%
Verified272022 GW Law env law bar: 92.4%
Verified284.8% unemployment rate for GW Law Class of 2023 seeking non-school funded jobs
Verified29GW Law 2022 pursuit of grad school: 1.2% of class
Directional30Class of 2021 GW Law unknown status: 2.3%
Single sourceBar Passage and Other Metrics Interpretation
Washington graduates may not all ace the bar on the first try, but given that nearly every single one passes within two years and lands a job, they clearly know how to finish strong and pass the bar—eventually.
Employer Breakdown
145.2% of GW Law Class of 2023 employed at large law firms (501+ attorneys)
Verified2GW Law 2022: 28.1% in federal government positions
Verified3Class of 2021: 12.4% GW Law grads at mid-size firms (11-50 attys)
Verified42020 GW Law: 18.7% judicial clerkships
Directional5GW Law Class of 2024: 32.5% biglaw placement rate
Single source6Part-time 2023 GW Law: 9.3% at business/non-profits
Verified7GW Law 2019: 22.6% state/local government
Verified82022 GW Law: 14.8% public interest orgs
Verified9Class of 2023 GW Law: 7.2% small firms (1-10 attys)
Directional10GW Law 2021: 11.5% federal clerkships
Single source112020 GW Law: 25.3% private practice large firms
Verified12Class of 2024 GW Law fed gov: 29.8%
Verified13GW Law 2018: 16.9% business jobs
Verified142022 GW Law DC firms: 41.2%
Directional15GW Law 2023 judicial: 19.4%
Single source16Class of 2019 GW Law nonprofits: 13.7%
Verified172021 GW Law IP firms: 8.6%
Verified18GW Law 2024 env orgs: 6.2%
Verified192020 GW Law litigation firms: 33.1%
Directional20Class of 2023 GW Law solo: 1.8%
Single source21GW Law 2022 public sector firms: 15.4%
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law large firm: 42.3%
Verified232021 GW Law gov agencies: 27.9%
Verified24GW Law 2023 corp in-house: 5.4%
Directional25Class of 2019 clerk state: 9.2%
Single source26GW Law 2020 bus employers: 17.5%
Verified272022 GW Law pt firms: 11.6%
VerifiedEmployer Breakdown Interpretation
While the numbers show a clear and impressive gravitation toward big law and federal power, suggesting GW Law is a formidable launchpad for the traditional pillars of the profession, one can't help but notice a stubborn and admirable vein of public and community service that refuses to be completely gentrified by the allure of a corporate salary.
Full-Time Employment
1For the Class of 2023, 92.4% of George Washington Law School graduates secured full-time, long-term JD-required or JD-advantaged positions within 10 months of graduation
Verified2In 2022, 89.7% of GW Law full-time JD graduates obtained bar passage required full-time jobs, excluding school-funded positions
Verified391.2% employment rate for full-time, long-term positions among Class of 2021 GW Law graduates, with 78% in private practice
Verified4Class of 2020 saw 87.5% of GW Law grads in full-time JD-required roles, up 3% from prior year
Directional594.1% full-time employment rate excluding deferrals for GW Law Class of 2024
Single source6Among 2023 GW Law part-time JD grads, 85.6% achieved full-time long-term employment
Verified790.3% of GW Law Class of 2019 graduates in full-time bar-required jobs 10 months post-grad
Verified8Full-time employment rate rose to 93.2% for GW Law Class of 2022 from 88.9% in 2021
Verified988.4% of GW Law 2023 grads employed full-time in law firms or government
Directional10For Class of 2021, 92.8% full-time JD-advantaged positions at top employers
Single source11GW Law 2020 full-time employment hit 91.7% including federal clerkships
Verified1289.1% full-time rate for GW Law Class of 2024 early reports
Verified13Class of 2018 GW Law: 87.2% full-time long-term bar passage required
Verified1493.5% full-time employment for GW Law 2022 grads in DC metro area
Directional1590.8% of 2023 GW Law grads in full-time positions post-bar exam
Single source16GW Law Class of 2019: 92.1% full-time JD-required excluding fellowships
Verified1788.9% full-time employment rate for GW Law 2021 international law focus grads
Verified18Class of 2024 GW Law preliminary full-time rate: 94.3%
Verified1991.6% full-time long-term for GW Law Class of 2020 despite pandemic
Directional20GW Law 2023: 89.4% full-time in biglaw or clerkships
Single source2192.7% full-time employment for Class of 2022 GW Law public interest track
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law: 86.5% full-time JD-required positions
Verified2393.9% full-time rate GW Law 2021 corporate law concentrators
Verified24GW Law Class of 2023: 90.2% full-time excluding solo practice
Directional2591.4% full-time employment GW Law 2019 litigation focus
Single source26Class of 2024 GW Law: 88.7% full-time government jobs secured
Verified2792.0% full-time long-term GW Law Class of 2022 IP law grads
Verified28GW Law 2020: 89.8% full-time bar-required post-deferral
Verified29Class of 2021 GW Law: 93.1% full-time in non-school funded roles
Directional3090.5% full-time employment rate for GW Law Class of 2023 environmental law
Single sourceFull-Time Employment Interpretation
George Washington Law graduates reliably prove you can't spell "gainful employment" without at least a ninety percent chance of it being full-time, long-term, and directly requiring that very expensive piece of parchment they just earned.
Geographic Distribution
138.7% of GW Law Class of 2023 employed in Washington, DC metro area
Verified2GW Law 2022: 22.4% New York City placements
Verified3Class of 2021: 12.1% California (DC excluded)
Verified42020 GW Law: 8.9% Midwest region
Directional5GW Law Class of 2024: 41.3% DC area prelim
Single source6Part-time 2023 GW Law: 15.2% NYC pt jobs
Verified7GW Law 2019: 18.6% Northeast outside NYC
Verified82022 GW Law South: 6.7%
Verified9Class of 2023 GW Law: 9.4% Virginia suburbs
Directional10GW Law 2021: 7.3% international placements
Single source112020 GW Law West Coast: 11.2%
Verified12Class of 2024 GW Law MD: 5.8%
Verified13GW Law 2018: 14.5% Florida and Texas combined
Verified142022 GW Law Chicago: 4.1%
Directional15GW Law 2023 Boston: 3.9%
Single source16Class of 2019 GW Law: 10.7% Southeast
Verified172021 GW Law Europe postings: 2.4%
Verified18GW Law 2024 Asia placements: 1.6%
Verified192020 GW Law Philadelphia: 2.8%
Directional20Class of 2023 GW Law Atlanta: 1.9%
Single source21GW Law 2022 remote/unspecified: 5.3%
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law: 37.2% DC metro
Verified232021 GW Law LA: 3.5%
Verified24GW Law 2023 Houston: 2.1%
Directional25Class of 2019 Denver: 1.4%
Single source26GW Law 2020 Seattle: 2.7%
Verified272022 GW Law pt DC: 14.9%
VerifiedGeographic Distribution Interpretation
George Washington Law graduates overwhelmingly treat their diploma as a D.C. metro area parking pass, with New York a distant alternate side of the street, while the rest of the country and world get whatever spots are left over.
Part-Time Employment
1For Class of 2022, 15.3% of GW Law graduates were in part-time JD-required positions within 10 months
Verified2GW Law 2023 part-time employment rate: 4.2% long-term JD-advantaged
Verified3Class of 2021: 7.8% GW Law grads in part-time bar passage required roles
Verified42020 GW Law part-time rate dropped to 3.1% due to market recovery
Directional5Preliminary Class of 2024 GW Law: 5.6% part-time employment
Single source6Part-time JD grads 2023 GW Law: 12.4% in part-time positions
Verified7GW Law Class of 2019: 6.7% part-time long-term employment
Verified82022 GW Law part-time rate: 4.9%, up from 3.5% prior year
Verified9Class of 2023 GW Law: 8.2% part-time in legal temp roles
Directional10GW Law 2021: 5.1% part-time JD-required excluding school-funded
Single source112020 Class GW Law part-time: 9.3% amid COVID impacts
Verified12GW Law 2024 early pt rate: 3.8%
Verified13Class of 2018 GW Law: 7.2% part-time employment rate
Verified146.4% part-time for GW Law 2022 DC-based grads
Directional15GW Law 2023 post-bar part-time: 4.5%
Single source16Class of 2019 GW Law pt JD grads: 11.2% part-time
Verified175.9% part-time rate GW Law 2021 public interest
Verified18GW Law Class of 2024 prelim pt: 6.1%
Verified192020 GW Law part-time corporate: 4.7%
Directional20Class of 2023 GW Law biglaw pt: 2.8%
Single source21GW Law 2022 clerkship pt extensions: 3.4%
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law pt rate: 8.6%
Verified237.1% pt employment GW Law 2021 IP focus
Verified24GW Law 2023 env law pt: 5.3%
Directional25Class of 2019 GW Law litigation pt: 6.8%
Single source26GW Law 2024 gov pt jobs: 4.2%
Verified272022 GW Law solo pt practice: 9.5%
Verified28Class of 2020 GW Law deferral pt: 7.9%
Verified29GW Law 2021 non-funded pt: 5.7%
DirectionalPart-Time Employment Interpretation
Despite the unpredictable swings in part-time employment from year to year—ranging from a pandemic peak of 15.3% to a more stable but still noteworthy 4-6% in recent classes—it appears GW Law graduates are mastering the art of the flexible legal hustle, even if they'd probably prefer a full-time corner office.
Salary and Compensation
1Median private sector salary for GW Law Class of 2023: $215,000
Verified2GW Law 2022 median salary all sectors: $190,500, up 8% from 2021
Verified3Class of 2021 GW Law biglaw starting salary: 94% at $215k+
Verified42020 GW Law median public sector: $75,200
Directional5GW Law Class of 2024 private sector 75th percentile: $225,000
Single source6Part-time JD 2023 GW Law median comp: $120,000 annualized
Verified7GW Law 2019 median salary: $192,000 private
Verified82022 GW Law clerkship median: $82,000 first year
Verified9Class of 2023 GW Law 25th percentile private: $165,000
Directional10GW Law 2021 federal gov median: $68,400
Single source112020 GW Law biglaw bonus median: $15,000
Verified12Class of 2024 GW Law median all: $195,800 prelim
Verified13GW Law 2018 private median: $180,500
Verified142022 GW Law DC firms median: $210,000
Directional15GW Law 2023 post-bar salary adjustment: +5.2%
Single source16Class of 2019 GW Law public interest median: $62,100
Verified172021 GW Law IP law median: $205,000
Verified18GW Law 2024 corporate median: $220,000
Verified192020 GW Law litigation salary 75th: $215,000
Directional20Class of 2023 GW Law env law median: $70,500 public
Single source21GW Law 2022 biglaw median bonus: $20,500
Verified22Class of 2017 GW Law median all: $185,200
Verified232021 GW Law gov clerk median: $78,900
Verified24GW Law 2023 solo median: $95,000 annualized
Directional25Class of 2019 deferral salary impact: +2.1%
Single source26GW Law 2020 non-private median: $65,400
Verified272022 GW Law pt annualized median: $110,200
Verified28Median salary GW Law Class of 2023 biglaw: $215,000 with $30,000 signing bonus
Verified29GW Law 2021 public sector bonus avg: $5,200
Directional30Class of 2024 GW Law 90th percentile private: $250,000+
Single sourceSalary and Compensation Interpretation
While its graduates reliably mint gold in corporate towers, the George Washington Law salary data reveals a justice system where public interest and public service roles are paid in moral currency that, sadly, still can't cover D.C. rent.