As practicing law becomes a riskier bet, students must do more
David Angelatos
Issue date: 9/29/09 Section: Opinion
Historically, law offered an abundance of opportunity as well as the promise of stability and a comfortable life. Now, pre-law students have to wonder whether the massive debt they will acquire from their legal education is worth it now that the most lucrative jobs are quickly disappearing and the less profitable ones are much more competitive. Most of the smaller private schools are no less expensive than their larger counterparts, and they generally offer less employment choices than the top universities. Potential law students should seriously consider the much cheaper public schools for their legal educations.
In light of the way the market has turned, Loyola's pre-law students need to ask themselves if all the money and hard work involved in a legal education is worth the risk. Although the young lawyers of Ivy League schools might not get the highest-paying jobs immediately, it is still safe to say a Harvard or Yale Law graduate will live a comfortable life.
A few years as a prosecutor, perhaps, may give the young lawyer some experience before moving into a major law firm. Still, if students at top schools are suffering, would it be worth it to go to a public university? With the market deep in a recession for an undetermined length of time, freshman and sophomores with legal ambitions should strive more than ever to maintain a high GPA from the start, and should also keep in mind that it is never too early to start preparing for the LSATs.
Law school is becoming a gamble for the first time as lucrative jobs become scarce. Big law firms are beginning to change their recruitment strategies in response to this major downturn in job availability, and this raises the question of whether the legal field will be permanently changed from the stable domain it has always been, or whether this will all blow over as the Baby Boomers drop out of the workforce and into retirement. Whatever the case, aspiring lawyers should keep in mind that law is no longer the safe choice it is perceived to be.
In light of the way the market has turned, Loyola's pre-law students need to ask themselves if all the money and hard work involved in a legal education is worth the risk. Although the young lawyers of Ivy League schools might not get the highest-paying jobs immediately, it is still safe to say a Harvard or Yale Law graduate will live a comfortable life.
A few years as a prosecutor, perhaps, may give the young lawyer some experience before moving into a major law firm. Still, if students at top schools are suffering, would it be worth it to go to a public university? With the market deep in a recession for an undetermined length of time, freshman and sophomores with legal ambitions should strive more than ever to maintain a high GPA from the start, and should also keep in mind that it is never too early to start preparing for the LSATs.
Law school is becoming a gamble for the first time as lucrative jobs become scarce. Big law firms are beginning to change their recruitment strategies in response to this major downturn in job availability, and this raises the question of whether the legal field will be permanently changed from the stable domain it has always been, or whether this will all blow over as the Baby Boomers drop out of the workforce and into retirement. Whatever the case, aspiring lawyers should keep in mind that law is no longer the safe choice it is perceived to be.
Be the first to comment on this story