Type of PracticeThe chart on the right indicates the various types of practice selected by members of the Class of 2008. Many Syracuse Law graduates pursue traditional careers in private practice with specialized or full-service law firms, or as judicial clerks in one of the many local, state, and federal courts.
Other law graduates choose less traditional career alternatives following career exploration. Employment in government, business, and academia are a few career alternatives Syracuse Law students have chosen.
Starting Salaries
Law graduate salaries are influenced primarily by practice type and geographic location. Compensation can vary widely between public and private sectors and geographic locations, with larger metropolitan areas typically offering higher starting salaries.
For members of the Class of 2008, salaries ranged from $160,000 for large firm practice to $40,000 for public interest law employment. The average salary reported by those in private practice law firm positions was $94,000. The average salary reported by those in public sector government jobs was $50,000, while the average salary reported by those in private sector jobs was $86,500. The average starting salary for all employment types was $75,000.
Geographic Distribution
A survey of the Class of 2008 shows the following geographical breakdown:
 |
|
| New England (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT) |
9% |
| Middle Atlantic (*NY, NJ, PA) |
55% |
| Midwest (IL, IN, MI, OH, WI, IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD) |
5% |
| South Atlantic (DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV) |
15% |
| South (AL, KY, TN, AR, MS, LA, OK, TX) |
3% |
| Mountain (AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) |
3% |
| Pacific (AK, CA, HI, OR, WA) |
9% |
| International |
1% |
|
|
| *graduates employed in NYS working in Metro NYC: 48% |