Government figures have revealed for the first time the extent of the earnings gap that graduates in law from different English universities can expect in new pilot data on employment outcomes.
While the median earnings of law graduates from the University of Oxford are 拢61,500 five years after graduation, median earnings for a law degree from the University of Bradford are 拢17,500 鈥� 拢44,000 a year less. The University of Cambridge was just below Oxford with earnings of 拢54,500, while graduates of the University of Bedfordshire are only slightly better off than those of Bradford with salaries of 拢18,000.
Although the government stated that its does not look at overall graduate earnings by institution because they can be 鈥渟trongly influenced by subject mix鈥�, it is using the law graduate employment data as a pilot to get 鈥渦ser feedback鈥� ahead of a planned spring 2017 release of graduate salary data by subject.
鈥淲e have chosen to pilot outcomes for law graduates as we can report outcomes for a large number of institutions,鈥� the government reported. 鈥淣ot all institutions offer all subjects; however, we are able to present employment and/or earnings outcomes for law graduates in 76 institutions.鈥�
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This is the first time that the government has used its new Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) data 鈥� which are based, among other things, on tax records 鈥� to present information on graduate employment outcomes for each higher education institution in England, although it points out that the publication uses 鈥渆xperimental statistics鈥�.
It further noted that differences in institution-level outcomes can be influenced by numerous factors 鈥渂eyond the educational benefits provided by that institution鈥�, including the subject mix offered, the characteristics of the student intake, and whether certain universities鈥� graduates take up activities that the data do not capture well, such as self-employment or working abroad.
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Although the law graduate figures, based on those who left university in 2008-09, present a stark picture of earning potential for first degree holders at different UK universities, the sector has warned of the risk of using such raw data to measure graduate outcomes as part of the teaching excellence framework (TEF).
鈥淚f used as part of TEF, [LEO data] should be benchmarked,鈥� said Maddalaine Ansell, University Alliance chief executive. 鈥淪ince salary varies according to geography, subject studied and even parental income, raw earnings data should not be used to measure outcomes as part of the teaching excellence framework.
鈥淚f properly contextualised to take into account local and regional labour markets, [LEO] has the potential to provide useful information for prospective students choosing courses once the time-lag issue has been addressed: currently it only includes data that are eight years out of date.鈥�
Her concerns were echoed by Pam Tatlow, chief executive of MillionPlus, who said that the use of LEO data was 鈥�extremely limited鈥� and urged the government not to use them as an additional metric for the TEF.
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鈥淟EO relies on Her Majesty鈥檚 Revenue and Customs pay as you earn (PAYE) data and fails to capture the full range of graduate employment patterns, including in sectors such as the creative industries, where portfolio careers and self-employment are common,鈥� she said.
鈥淢inisters should resist the temptation of including the LEO data as an additional metric in the TEF. Even as it stands, the LEO data provide only a very partial picture of the value of participating in higher education and have nothing to do with the quality of teaching.鈥�
Top institutions for graduate law earnings after first degree, according to LEO data
| Institution | Number of graduates | Median earnings (five years after 2008-09 graduation) |
| University of Oxford | 120 | 拢61,500 |
| University of Cambridge | 105 | 拢54,500 |
| London School of Economics听 | 50 | 拢47,500 |
| University College London | 55 | 拢47,000 |
| University of Warwick | 75 | 拢41,500 |
| Durham University | 75 | 拢40,500 |
| University of Nottingham | 95 | 拢38,000 |
| University of Bristol | 95 | 拢37,500 |
| King鈥檚 College London | 125 | 拢37,000 |
| University of Manchester | 135 | 拢35,500 |
Bottom institutions for graduate law earnings after first degree, according to LEO data
| Institution | Number of graduates听 | Median earnings (five years after 2008-09听graduation) |
| University of Bradford | 60 | 拢17,500 |
| University of Bedfordshire | 35 | 拢18,000 |
| University of Derby | 70 | 拢18,500 |
| University of Wolverhampton | 170 | 拢19,500 |
| Bucks New University | 25 | 拢19,500 |
| Birmingham City University | 85 | 拢19,500 |
| Edge Hill University | 45 | 拢19,500 |
| Middlesex University | 75 | 拢20,000 |
| London Metropolitan University | 95 | 拢20,000 |
| University of Huddersfield | 60 | 拢20,000 |
| De Montfort University | 165 | 拢20,000 |
| University of Lincoln | 80 | 拢20,000 |
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