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Nearly 40 percent of Geneseo alums who went on to complete a doctoral degree did so in law, according to recent data from the National Student Clearinghouse. The report covers alums from Spring 2014 through Summer 2023.
“In addition, roughly a third of those alums who earned a JD were political science majors at Geneseo,” says Matthew Pastizzo, director for institutional research and effectiveness and professor of psychology. Other top majors that led to law degrees were English, international relations, history, and psychology. But law schools value high-achieving students regardless of discipline, says Pastizzo, and the data show that alums from a wide variety of Geneseo majors become lawyers. The report’s cohort reflects 27 different majors, ranging from geography to communication to biology.
The University at Buffalo School of Law receives the highest percentage of Geneseo alums, which is why the College recently established a 3+3 partnership program with UB. The program accepts Geneseo grads from nine different majors, and the law degree pathway saves students both time and money. Geneseo grads have also attended an array of other prestigious law schools, including Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, Penn State, NYU, and UCLA.
Students interested in law are supported by Geneseo’s robust pre-law advisory program, which offers a minor in legal studies as well as LSAT and law school application preparation, pre-law scholarships, and related student events and organizations.
Employment for new law graduates remains strong despite an anticipated market contraction and an increase in the number of graduates. In March 2025, the American Bar Association reported that “the percentage of recent law school graduates employed in full-time, long-term Bar Admission Required/Anticipated or JD Advantage jobs has reached another record-high—which is good news for the graduates.”
“I cannot stress this enough,” says Graham Drake, professor of English and pre-law advisor. “Geneseo provides the strong liberal arts background that equips students for success in law school and in careers as lawyers.”