Last summer, UDSL alumni were mailed a survey and asked to share information about their student experiences, their careers since graduation, and their relationships with the School today. Almost 400 alumni completed and returned the survey; respondents represented every class from 1977 – 2006. Here is a summary of the results.

Roughly two-thirds of graduates surveyed said that they consider the quality of their education from UDSL to be very good or excellent, naming faculty as the number one highlight of their experience. Fellow students and law school facilities tied as the second most frequently cited highlight.

When asked what top professional skills and abilities they find most useful in their law careers, patterns emerged in alumni responses depending upon year of graduation. For alumni who graduated in the 1970s, trial advocacy and problem solving were most important. For alumni who graduated in the 1980s, problem solving, legal research, and trial advocacy were most important. For alumni who graduated in the 1990s, legal reasoning and problem solving were most important. And for alumni who graduated in the 2000s, legal writing, legal reasoning, and trial advocacy were most important. Alumni from all years said that legal writing and reasoning were the strengths of UDSL’s program. Most felt that they were least prepared by UDSL in negotiation and alternative dispute resolution, now cornerstones of the current Lawyer as Problem Solver curriculum under which every student is required to take at least one course covering these topics.

When it came to the transition from student to lawyer, about one-third of alumni said that the most helpful service provided by the career services office was job postings, which was the most popular answer. In their law careers, over two-thirds of alumni rated their UDSL alumni colleagues as excellent or good when it came to professionalism and performance as attorneys. The majority of the other one-third said that they were unable to make any kind determination. 

Alumni respondents said that they most often read the Alumni Roundtable and Alumni Profiles sections of the Dayton Lawyer, and about one-third have participated in alumni events in the last three years. Of those surveyed who have attended Alumni Weekend, nearly 90 percent said that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the weekend. The majority of respondents said that they prefer to have Alumni Weekend in May. This year, Alumni Weekend is scheduled for Friday, May 16 & Saturday, May 17, 2008. 

In addition to current alumni events, 45 percent of alumni surveyed said they would be interested in an alumni trip abroad. Top rated destinations were Italy and Ireland.

Finally, slightly less than half of alumni respondents said they provide philanthropic support to UDSL, citing gratitude and a desire to support the school as top motivators for giving.

Many thanks to all UDSL alumni for their thoughtful feedback!