TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Apr 8, 2026

A new study finds that earning a law degree increases graduates’ earnings by an average of 59%, trailing only medicine and pharmacy degrees, Reuters reports. Average income rose from about $55,500 before law school to more than $132,500 after graduation. The study also found that higher-ranked law schools tend to produce greater financial returns, aligning with American Bar Association data showing elite institutions send more graduates into large law firms with starting salaries of about $225,000. After accounting for the relatively high cost of law school, researchers found a law degree still yields a 41% earnings boost.