Careers
An SLS education is a life-shaping experience. An SLS degree is a career-making advantage.
Stanford Law prepares students to go wherever the law leads, around the globe and into any of the countless fields law influences, from economics to the environment, public policy to public interest. We cultivate in our students a passion for innovation and a belief in law as a tool for positive change, whether you’re serving a Fortune 100 corporation, preserving the rights of children, setting legal precedents in privacy protection, launching a company or shaping the law from the bench. When you’re ready to launch your career, Stanford Law offers services and support that make your degree a true door-opener.
Graduates at a Glance
99%
Students placed in jobs within 9 months of graduation or pursuing an advanced degree
79 countries, 50 states: Locations where SLS graduates can be found
58%
Graduates who take jobs outside California at graduation
$225K
51
Consecutive years SLS graduates have clerked on the U.S. Supreme Court
Hi-tech
96, 95
Nothing that I've done in my legal career did I anticipate, did I ever expect. Everything I did at Stanford set me up for that. I learned how to think. I learned how to write. I learned how to work with people other than me.
Larry Irving, JD '79
SLS Pioneers
Shirley Hufstedler, LLB ’49
Sandra Day O’Connor, LLB ’52 (BA ’50)
Brooksley Born, JD ’64
Mary B. Cranston, JD ’75 (BA ’70)
Denis Hayes, JD ’85
Anthony Romero, JD ’90
Support for Private Sector Careers & Judicial Clerkships
Stanford Law’s Office of Career Services (OCS) helps students master career-planning skills and job search strategies, provides employment information, and offers career-related resources and services. The office facilitates mutually beneficial relationships between employers, faculty and staff, students and alumni in order to meet the dynamic needs of today’s legal workplace.
Students interested in governmental and nonprofit employers should also contact staff of the Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law.
Career Support at a Glance
Advanced Degree Students
1L Job Search
2L Job Search
Judicial Clerkships
Alumni Career Resources
Contact Us
Support for Careers with Public Impact
Stanford Law’s commitment to law that makes a difference includes comprehensive support for students whose ambitions lead them to a career in public service or public interest law. The John and Terry Levin Center for Public Service and Public Interest Law is here to help students take advantage of the many opportunities for public service training and pro bono experience at SLS. The center connects new graduates with career options through symposia and panels, externships and mentorships, job placement advice and long-term career planning. Add Stanford Law’s generous loan forgiveness program (LRAP), and the opportunity for impact is within reach.
connect with the levin center
Connections for Employers
Stanford Law uses Symplicity's database to house all incoming job postings. Employers may post as many jobs as they'd like, free of charge.
Learn more : Post jobsOn-campus interviews are held during Fall and Winter quarters only, with registration several months in advance. Employers may also register in advance to collect resumes from SLS students.
Learn more : Arrange for on-campus interviews or resume collectionConnect with future SLS graduates by participating in an academic program or hosting an event. The Office of Career Services is available to help. Hiring a first year law student is another great way to reach out to the SLS community; by hiring a 1L, employers gain an ambassador who can share perspective on the firm with 3Ls.
Learn more : Reach out to students