Are law degrees as valuable to minorities?

Frank McIntyre and Michael Simkovic

International Review of Law and Economics, 2018, vol. 53, issue C, 23-37

Abstract: We estimate the increase in earnings from a law degree relative to a bachelor’s degree for graduates of different race/ethnic groups. Law earnings premiums are higher for whites than for minorities (excluding individuals raised outside the U.S.). The median annual law earnings premium is approximately $41,000 for whites, $34,000 for Asians, $33,000 for blacks, and $28,000 for Hispanics. Law earnings premiums for whites, blacks and Hispanics have trended upward and appear to be gradually converging. Approximately 90% of law graduates are white compared to approximately 82% of bachelor’s degree holders.

Keywords: Labor economics; Earnings premium; Law school; Lawyers; Legal profession; Race; Minorities; Earnings gap; Discrimination; Inequality; Productivity; Law Firm; Education; Economic value of a law degree; SIPP; ACS; Census; American Community Survey; Survey of Income and Program Participation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:53:y:2018:i:c:p:23-37

DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2017.09.004

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