Northwestern Pritzker Law Named #1 Go-To Law School: Big Law

Northwestern Pritzker School of Law has been ranked number one in Law.com’s Go-To Law Schools: Big Law report for 2024. The report ranks the 50 law schools that sent the highest percentage of 2023 JDs into associate jobs at the nation’s largest 100 law firms. Northwestern jumped from a number three ranking in 2023 to the top spot in 2024, with 182 of its graduates, or 65.2%, now working in Big Law. The two firms that hired the most Northwestern graduates were once again Kirkland & Ellis and Sidley Austin.

For the first time since the survey launched in 2006, this year’s data came from law schools instead of the data being collected from the law firms, which means each school is reporting the complete picture for their graduates vs. receiving data from approximately 80% to 85% of the largest 100 law firms. The other notable change to the project this year is that the name became “Go-To Law Schools: Big Law,” after Law.com launched a new part of this “Go-To” survey in December called Go-To Law Schools: Other Employment, which included rankings for the top 50 law schools that sent students to judicial clerkships, government jobs, and public interest positions.

“Congratulations to our remarkable 2023 graduates and thank you to our faculty, staff, and alumni who have supported them on Northwestern Pritzker Law being recognized as the #1 Go-To Law School in the country in Law.com’s 2024 Big Law report,” said Dean Hari Osofsky. “This recognition is a testament to our extraordinary graduates, who have exceptional legal and professional skills and are already making an impact. We are extremely grateful to the many faculty, staff, and alumni whose efforts have made a difference for these graduates and wanted to give special thanks to Associate Dean Donald Rebstock, Assistant Dean Dave Diamond, and the Career Strategy Center team; Associate Dean Darnell Hines and the Alumni Relations and Development team; Assistant Dean Juliann Cecci and the external partnerships team; Associate Dean Susie Spies Roth and the Students Services team; and Assistant Dean Johann Lee and the Admissions team.”

Dave Diamond of the Career Strategy Center team agreed that the list demonstrates the Law School’s strong reputation among the nation’s elite law firms, as well as the continued dedication of the entire Law School community. “This result reflects what we hear in our conversations with law firm recruiting personnel – that our students and graduates are highly valued and sought,” said Diamond.

“It ultimately takes a community-wide effort,” added Don Rebstock, Associate Dean of Admissions and Career Services, “starting with the exceptional students our admissions team attracts and continuing with our innovative and interdisciplinary educational program; the full range of services we provide across the entire Law School; and our supportive and powerful community.  These combine to ensure that our students have the legal and business knowledge and the other intangible qualities necessary to hit the ground running.”

The Law.com ranking has existed for 17 years, and Northwestern Law has been ranked in the top five for 13 of those 17 years. This is the first time the Law School has achieved a number one ranking since 2010.