Racial employment gap widens among new US law graduates

New data from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) indicates a widening racial employment gap among recent law graduates. In 2025, over 94 percent of white law graduates secured employment within 10 months of graduation, while the employment rate for graduates of color fell to less than 91 percent.

Black law graduates reported the lowest employment rate at 87 percent, a decrease from nearly 90 percent in 2024. Hispanic graduates also saw a decline, moving from over 92 percent the previous year to slightly above 91 percent. Asian graduates remained stable at approximately 92 percent, while Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander graduates recorded an employment rate of more than 96 percent.

These findings emerge during a period of shifting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the United States. Federal regulators, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Federal Trade Commission, have increased scrutiny of hiring practices at major law firms. Additionally, the Diversity Lab, an organization focused on legal industry diversity, ceased operations in June following regulatory scrutiny.