Law career access: An examination of the occupational outcomes for University of Maryland School of Law graduates (Class of 2000--2003)

The Law Career Access Study evaluates the transition of law graduates from the University of Maryland School of Law (Class 2000-2003) to workplace settings. Specifically, a mixed methods case study research model is utilized to examine the relations of demographic and personal agency variables that may affect career-entry occupational outcomes of graduates of the University of Maryland School of Law.; Study participants were recruited by a mailing of research consent forms and twenty-one After the JD Study (Dinovitzer & Associates, 2004) survey questions to 918 alumni with mailing addresses obtained from the University of Maryland School of Law Alumni Directory (2005) and the Maryland State Bar Association (2005). The survey response rate was 27.1 % with a total of 249 of the 918 surveys mailed returned. Gender representation was 53.4% female, and 46.6% male.; A total population of 974 University of Maryland School of Law graduates with a sample size of 249 respondents resulted in a statistical confidence level of 95% with a confidence interval of 5 (Creative Research Systems, 2003). Additionally, descriptive, hypothesis, and ratings analyses for the survey population were performed by summary, crosstabulation, and Chi-Square statistical testing. Concurrently, the qualitative phase of the research involved open-ended survey data collection and analysis through Atlas.ti computer software (Muhr, 2004) with an identification of themes describing relevant findings.; Significant earnings differentials are documented among women and racial/ethnic minorities in the study. Critical, feminist, and postmodern theories form conceptual lenses whose basic knowledge claims of multiple perspectives of race, gender, class and "power relations" are incorporated in the theoretical framework of the research design and the interpretive conclusions of the study.; The results of the study suggests, however, that a sector of law graduates in general choose lesser occupational prestige positions for personal agency reasons with regard to overall career satisfaction and alternatively other factors than the "PowerTrack". Diversity awareness and appreciation indicators were also, qualitatively assessed among law school alumni. There was a convergence of both the quantitative and qualitative research findings lending validity to the results. Educational policy analysis and recommendations for improvements in legal education are provided.