With October in full swing, many seniors are facing the ever-pressing question of what they will be doing next year. While many will choose to enter the workforce, volunteer abroad or even apply for jobs on campus, a large percentage of students will be heading off to law schools around the country.† Although acceptance rates to these institutions are reasonable, the problem occurs when students graduate.† Increasing amounts of debt and problems finding permanent employment are becoming a national trend for post-grad law students.
In September, USA Today ran an article discussing the negative impacts that law school is having on students, many of whom are running deep into debt and also having problems finding a job. The article defies the previous public perception that law students will immediately secure $100,000 starting salaries after they graduate, the actuality of the situation is that the majority of students lucky enough to be employed are being placed in temporary positions or even jobs that don’t require a law degree.
Additionally, the National Association for Law Placement reported that not only has the post-grad employment rate decreased from 92 percent in 2007 to 88 percent in 2009, but also the application rate has increased by over two percent. At Harvard University Law School, Assistant Dean and Chief Admissions Officer Joshua Rubenstein reported that the number of applicants rose from 7,168 in 2008 to 7,610 in 2010. Rubenstein attributed this increase to the poor condition of the economy and how this pressures people to pursue advanced degrees. This adverse trend has raised fears that students will continue to find difficulty in securing jobs after they graduate.
More disturbing than the alarmingly low employment rate is the incredibly costly loans that students are being forced to take out in order to attend law schools. The American Bar Association reported in November 2009 that the average student borrowed $59,324 for a public law school and $91,506 for a private one in 2007-08. The Bar Association went on to caution prospective students to “have a clear picture of the debt they will incur and the expected earning power.”
However, some of the blame cannot just be placed on the law schools. A recent post by Heather Dierson appeared on Minnesota Lawyer’s Web site entitled “Dear Law School: It’s All Your Fault. Signed, A Recent Grad,” in response to the USA Today article. Although Dierson, who graduated law school in 2008, notes that although she was aware that tuition would be around $75,000 dollars, it was ultimately still her choice to attend the institution. She says, “If I was smart enough to get into law school, I should be smart enough to know that there has always been too many lawyers.”
So what should you do if you are planning on going to law school next year? Rubenstein says it’s all about experience. “People with work experience typically have strong leadership skills and bring good perspectives to the community. They have a strong idea of what they want to get out of law school.” Finding law experience during your time at the institution can give you a head up in the job search once you graduate. Additionally, generating good relations with professors and alumni can help provide links to opportunities in the employment field both during and post-graduation.
In terms of loans, it is important to keep your finances in order and if you are applying for student loans, be sure to work out the best possible plan for you and your future.
Even though times might not be ideal for a student in law school, there is no way to say that they will not succeed. The ability lies within the student and how far they are willing to push one another in order to succeed.