What We’re Learning from 272+ Graduates
Over the past several months, more than 270 legal masters graduates and leaders of over 30 law school legal masters programs have shared their experiences with NLMA through our first graduate and law school surveys, focus groups and advisory discussions.
As the response has grown, we’ve begun to look more closely at what we’re hearing, not only at the themes that have emerged, but at the questions they raise about the experience of legal master’s graduates and the role NLMA might play in the field.
We’re not ready to draw firm conclusions. But the conversations are already highlighting common experiences and needs that can inform where we focus our efforts next.
Our First Research Snapshot
We’ve pulled together some of what we’ve learned so far in a short NLMA Research Snapshot.
The snapshot looks at what graduates and law schools are telling us about their programs, career pathways, employer recognition, professional development, and the kinds of support they would value from an organization like NLMA.
It also identifies several questions we want to explore further – including what happens after the degree, and whether graduates are looking for new forms of professional development, credentials, community, and demonstrated expertise that may not be readily available through their degree programs.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH SNAPSHOT
This is an early look, not a final report. As our research continues, we expect to revisit these findings and add perspectives from other parts of the legal masters community.
Next Up: Graduate Focus Groups
Many of the graduates who responded to our survey told us they would like to participate in future NLMA research. We’re listening.
In September, we’ll hold another series of graduate focus groups to explore some of the questions emerging from the survey and our first round of conversations.
We’ll be looking more closely at graduates’ experiences after completing their degrees—including career pathways, professional identity, continuing development, and the ways graduates connect their legal education to their work..
Continuing our work
NLMA will continue to analyze the information we’ve gathered and refine the questions we want to ask next. We expect to continue our research with graduates, employers, and other members of the legal masters community later this year.
As always, our goal is to build NLMA with input from the people connected to these degrees. Thank you to everyone who has taken a survey, joined a focus group, participated in an advisory discussion, or helped us reach new members of the community. Please continue to share your thoughts and experiences with us. The response is helping shape what NLMA becomes and what questions we ask next.