Like every law school applicant and student, you will be keenly aware of trends in both law school applications and admissions, as well as hiring.

Yes, applications have indeed surged in the current admissions cycle. While nobody can predict the future, precedent tells us that growth in admissions can lead to a tighter internship  and hiring market downstream.

Your pursuit of a law degree will bring its share of discoveries, both personal and professional. Balance is key, especially in today’s environment. While the threat of a tighter hiring market exists, it should not dictate every choice or undermine your overall sense of well-being. 

It’s good to plan and to remain open to the fuller law school experience. If anything, the stakes should inspire you to make deeper connections and seek clearer insights about the type of lawyer you want to be. Some tips:

1. Watch Your Costs 

Cincinnati Law consistently ranks among the most affordable options, particularly given our low tuition, strong scholarship support, and comparatively low graduate debt. We have always looked to blend value, manageable class sizes, great experiential opportunities, and solid regional placement. That focus and these priorities help us to stand out among public law schools. You will appreciate the financial flexibility after graduation. Your next three years should set you up to land the proper first position, rather than force you to chase only the highest-paying jobs.

2. Differentiate Early Through Experience

As a leader in experiential learning opportunities, Cincinnati Law prides itself on a 100 Percent Legal Extern Placement for second and third year students. Cincinnati Law students gain professional experience and academic credit at various externship sites, from government agencies to non-profit organizations to Fortune 500 corporations. Employers know the challenge of every young lawyer — to reconcile the precise and orderly nature of their hard-learned legal analysis with the dazzling complexity of actual human, social, and ethical conflict you will face, beginning with early clinic and externship experiences.

3. Treat Networking as Part of the Curriculum

Begin with Cincinnati Law faculty mentors. They choose to teach at a small-by-choice law school so that they can share not just their scholarship, but also their experience. These impressive scholars earned their stripes just as you will — by performing summer work for government, nonprofits, midsize firms, or judicial internships to build credibility. Cincinnati Law alumni also offer amazing insights — about how firms continue to recalibrate market-relevant skills. Know that every law career is built on relationships.

Cincinnati Law Outcomes

First, 83.8% of Cincinnati College of Law graduates secured full-time, permanent employment in law-related positions. This number, reported to the ABA and an essential part of our US News ranking, obscures an even more relevant statistic: 93.1% obtained professional employment or continued with further graduate studies.  

Students do not need to pursue ABA-reported jobs for their law school experience to be valuable and rewarding in their broader life journey. For some, further study or a different professional position is precisely what they are looking for and need. Consistent with our commitment to being a truly inclusive community, we are equally supportive of those pursuing a career in Big Law, a smaller law firm, or as a public defender. All of our students are an essential part of a rich mosaic that defines who we are.

Summary

Should the market get crowded, each small investment that you make will enable you to expand opportunities beyond on-campus interviews. 

Sometimes that involves choosing a practice area “community” (such as bar associations, student organizations, or LinkedIn groups) and getting to know the thought leaders; sometimes it’s as simple as being thoughtful about how you communicate with professors, recruiters, and peers to build reputation capital. Sometimes, opportunities arise from joining a practice-relevant student organization (e.g., Moot Court, Trial Advocacy, specialty law societies) to sharpen skills and demonstrate commitment.

In every job market, employers hire not just for grades, but for a wider mix of professionalism, self-awareness, reliability, and client-facing potential.