The USC Gould School of Law has achieved 100% employment for its JD Class of 2025 within 10 months of graduation, according to data reported to the American Bar Association (ABA) — including 96% in full-time, long-term, bar-required, JD-advantage positions.
“Our graduating classes routinely earn an overall employment rate exceeding 96%, which places us among the very top law schools; however, reaching 100% employment is a rare accomplishment, even on a national scale. This outcome reflects both the talent of our students and the coordinated efforts across the law school to support their success,” said USC Gould Dean Franita Tolson.
“Our entire Gould community works together to ensure our graduates are prepared to thrive in competitive legal markets anywhere in the country,” Tolson added.
Record-Setting Outcomes
The ABA requires accredited law schools to report detailed employment outcomes 10 months after graduation, providing a consistent measure for evaluating post-graduate results across institutions. While USC Gould has reported employment rates above 96% for several consecutive years, this is the first time that every single job-seeking graduate has found employment.
The Class of 2025 secured positions in major legal markets, including California, New York and Washington, D.C., and entered a range of employment sectors, including law firms, business and industry, government and public interest organizations, as well as judicial clerkships. More than half of the class joined large law firms with more than 500 attorneys. In addition, two graduates pursued further academic studies, having enrolled in advanced degree programs immediately after law school.
“It is a top priority of the law school to provide individualized guidance and customized support for each and every student,” said Robin Apodaca, associate dean of career services. “Whether you’re interested in big law, public interest or federal clerkships, our entire team is dedicated to meeting students’ needs, and focusing on opportunities that align with their career goals and personal passions.”
Further, the Class of 2025 also earned impressive bar pass results, with a 94% first-time passage rate across all jurisdictions, including a 93% first-time pass rate for the July 2025 California Bar Exam. USC Gould’s July 2025 California Bar Exam pass rate was 8.5 percentage points above the average for first-time takers from the state’s ABA-accredited law schools, and more than 38 percentage points above the overall pass rate.
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