Q: Is it Really a Bad Time to Be in Law School? A: That’s a Dumb Q

[Anne]

Very interesting post on today's Wall Street Journal Law Blog (http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/03/03/q-is-it-really-a-bad-time-to-be-in-law-school-a-thats-a-dumb-q/?mod=djemlawblog_h)--what do you guys think? If you're in law school, what are your experiences trying to get summer work? If you're applying to law school, does the thought of the situation deter you a bit? If you've just graduated, what's the job hunt been like for you?

We recently had occasion to chat with a second-year student at a large second-tier midwestern law school. When we asked what she was planning to do this summer, there was silence on the phone. She had no idea.

Now, it wasn’t like this 2L was waiting to hear from a flood of employers. No, all those folks had already dinged her. Nor was she readying to send out a new batch of resumes. What was the point? She was just standing still, it seemed, and had literally no idea what she was going to be doing this summer. She dreaded having to move back in with her parents for the season. After the call, we were of half a mind to send the poor girl a check for $100. We’re sorry this has befallen you, we would say in our condolence note. We feel for you. Buy yourself some new running shoes. Or splurge on some sushi.

Ah, it’s grim. The recession is officially over, the stock markets have largely rebounded on news of strong earnings, and law firms are slowly regaining their footing. But the jobs just haven’t returned yet.

If statistics are your thing (and not just isolated anecdotes of woe), we’ve got some this morning, courtesy of the NLJ. The paper reports a reality as grim as the tales. The median number of offers by U.S. law firms for 2010 summer associate positions was seven, according to statistics released Tuesday by NALP. The number, reports the NLJ, was down from 10 offers in 2008 and 15 offers in 2007.

The offer rate was the lowest NALP has reported since the organization began gathering offer statistics some 17 years ago.

The falloff was even more dramatic for firms with 700 or more attorneys. Their median offer rate was 30 in 2007 but only eight in 2009.

We’d be inclined to think, however, that the storm may be passing. If it is, however, it’s passing slowly, perhaps reflective of the job situation in the economy at large.

NALP Executive Director Jim Leipold told the NLJ: I don’t think anyone expects recruiting volumes to pick up significantly during 2010, though the worst does seem, we hope, to be behind us.”

[widespreadLSATpanic]

I'm planning to start Law School in 2011. My hope is that the recent events will scare off some applicants, making it not only easier for me to get in, but also more valuable coming out. We know there will always be a need for lawyers, and even more of them once the economy really gets rolling again. Is my thought process somewhat on track?

Here's to history repeating itself -> the Greedy 80's -> the Greedy 20teens!

[Amby]

Yes, exactly, because hoping for less competition as the way to get into law school is not only noble, it shows your truly exceptional reasoning skills.

[widespreadLSATpanic]

Uhh, not sure if my sarcasm meter is broken...but you seem to dish out some 'tude around here. What's the dilly-o?!

I'm definitely not claiming that less competition is the only way to get in...but it certainly won't hurt!

[Amby]

Oh, it's not broken if you think there was sarcasm in there.

And count me out as a member of "the Greedy 20teens!"

[Jeffort]

I say no, it's not a bad time to get into and be in Law School.  

You get 3 years to basically hide out in academia getting fueled by student loans and/or scholarships and grants (if your previous academic performance, test scores and extracurriculars are impressive) to use getting educated and prepared for a good career while the economy recovers.  Meaning you get time to wait out the storm while busting your arse studying, learning and doing your best to achieve good grades that can set yourself up to get/have good lucrative job opportunities upon graduation.  

Hopefully the economy will have recovered significantly by the time you are getting close to graduation.  My guess is that there will be plenty of litigation and increased demand for work from lawyers and law firms while and after Obama is in office, especially if the health care 'reform' legislation makes it through.

Plus, if you get into a decently ranked Law School, achieve grades that rank you somewhere in or close to the top of the class, and maybe make law review, you have a chance to get state or Federal court clerkship positions.  Getting one or more of those and being able to put it down on your resume/CV is GOLD for legal employment possibilities and salary potential after graduation.  

My best friend from LS got the top of the class GPA all 3 years individually and was top of the class at graduation.  During LS he never studied past ~7-8pm, is into fitness and went bike riding when he could, mainly evenings and on the weekends.  He went out to dinner with his GF all the time during the week and on weekends.  
Due to his stellar LS grades he got 2 back to back year long paid Federal court clerkships in the 9th circuit in Socal.  One year with a Federal district court judge and the second with a 9th Circuit Federal appellate court judge.  Following that he has been a respected and well payed associate at perhaps the most prestigious and powerful law firm that has an office in LA.  He scored a 164 on the LSAT and attended USC LS.

[JurisDad]

What about this question as being posed to a non-traditional (older) student already in a fairly successful career?

[Jeffort]

What about this question as being posed to a non-traditional (older) student already in a fairly successful career?

That depends on what your desire and motivation to become a lawyer is and what you want to do with the degree if you get it.  It also depends on what field your current career is in.

Companies in some industries/fields of work like to have on staff people that are experienced and knowledgeable in specific technical fields, have a law degree, and then pay them very well.  For instance, engineering, software and hardware computer technology development, aerospace and others.  Intellectual property is some of the most valuable 'real estate' in this day and age, is very sophisticated and is getting more complicated and valuable every day.  Patent law is one of the specialties, but you need to know the science concerning what you are litigating or doing legal work about to make any sense and be effective in legal processes concerning it.

Regarding Technology:  Moore's Law
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law

http://www.intel.com/technology/mooreslaw/

Check out this graph about it that only goes up till 10 years ago.  Moore's Law still holds true to this day but I couldn't find a current graph.




What field is your current career in?