What do employers expect from law school graduates?

Researchers at the University of Dayton School of Law recently released the findings from a study on what legal employers expect from law school graduates. Most observers would expect the employers to emphasize a need for writing and analytical skills, and they do touch on the importance of such capabilities. However, the respondents focused far more on so-called “soft” skills, like work ethic and individual responsibility.

In terms of the expected practical skills, employers highlighted the importance of conducting research, a skill to which most thought law schools should devote more time and resources. As new hires are often tasked with compiling up-to-date research for cases, respondents emphasized the need for graduates to know how to scour all available sources effectively, while also keeping in mind the purpose and the audience of an assignment. While lengthy research memos are commonly assigned, so too are shorter writing assignments for clients or other parties. Just as employers' preferences vary, clients' preferences for the amount of information provided differ as well. Recognizing how to tailor work products was observed by respondents as a critical skill.

Past the practical skills desired, employers voiced opinions on new hires' attitudes to the workplace and the work assigned to them. Coming in with a positive attitude and being able to work independently rated high on employers' list of desired “soft” skills. One even stated that some graduates come in to firms with an expectation that employers will “sit down and kind of spoon feed them.” For the employers interviewed in the study, that kind of attitude is problematic for new hires looking to succeed in the legal field.

While this study was focused on firms in the Dayton, Ohio area, it is beneficial for law students to understand what skills to cultivate prior to graduation.