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The power of a law degree
In today’s job market, the benefits of earning that juris doctor title extend beyond the courtroom.
By Jerry HicksPublished: August 01, 2010
Michelle Thomas, a junior at Chapman University in Orange, doesn’t just want to be a lawyer. She wants to be a prosecutor.
Jennifer Carlton, a recent graduate of Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, is fascinated by corporate law. Her goal, she says, is to help people prosper.
Irene Hsu, a recent graduate of Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, doesn’t want to be a lawyer at all. She wants to write. Her dream job, she says, is to be the editor of her own magazine, or someday write books.
What these three have in common: A law degree is the first step toward achieving their career ambitions.
Despite the bad news out there – the job market is tough, hirings are down, law school costs are up – today’s law school students remain focused and optimistic. And most scoff at suggestions that their law degree isn’t special.
“Any kind of post-undergraduate degree is almost essential these days,” says Jillian Reyes, a recent Whittier graduate. “A law degree on your resume has got to help, whatever field you pursue.”
But does a law degree have the same value that it had before the new millennium? Before the recession?
Gloria Switzer, a career specialist for the Dean of Admissions office at Western State, says that one’s easy to answer: “It’s still an unequivocal yes.”
Getting a good job right away may be more difficult. But, Switzer adds, that’s true for many careers today. “The recession cuts across the board,” she says.
What it might mean is that students may have to shift their focus from just mainstream law firms.
“There are cutting-edge fields that are growing, such as environmental law, immigration, international law and health care, which is exploding,” Switzer says. “Those opportunities are out there.”
Several law schools point out that Mexico is California’s largest trading partner. Many of the growing jobs in law come from transactional business between the two.
But the value of the law degree, notes Elizabeth Schroeder, career specialist for the new UC Irvine School of Law, is in the education itself.
“Law schools teach analytical thinking,” she says. “We prepare you to be good at whatever you do.”
Peter Reich, who has taught law at Whittier for 22 years, agrees that law schools shouldn’t just teach students to become lawyers: “A law degree is valuable for anyone who wants to understand how society works, how business or government works.”
Student Angira Patel, a recent Whittier graduate, concurs – and brims with confidence. Patel, who ran her own business designing Indian wedding dresses before law school, isn’t worried about getting a job – just the right job to suit her talents.
“I haven’t decided on business or law,” she says, “Probably business later on. I already know I’ll be great on somebody’s board of directors. I might not have thought that before law school.”
Hsu, the graduate from Costa Mesa’s Whittier Law School, is excited about her future. She earned her undergraduate degree from USC, then went on to get a master’s in critical studies – with an emphasis in creative writing – at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. So, why law school?
“I wanted to boost my resume,” she says. “My goal is to be a writer. But after I pass the bar, I plan to apply for jobs at law firms, too. My law degree lets me keep my options open.”
But here is the grim news: More than half of the country’s law programs reported a decrease of 30 percent or more in employer visits to their schools, according to The National Jurist, a publication aimed at students. Summer associate offers are down 30 percent. And the number of summer associates who received follow-up offers from the firms where they worked dropped from 90 percent to 69 percent in the past year.
The anti-law-school bloggers are on the rise. Sites like Esq.Never and Third Tier Reality warn that the debt of law school isn’t worth what many students will get in their careers. (From one Esq.Never blogger: “If you are a law student who already received your first semester grades, and they aren’t top 10 percent, then my advice is to drop out now instead of throwing more money down the law school black hole.”)
Even the American Bar Association, in its Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs, warns: “Far too many law students expect that earning a law degree will solve their financial problems for life. In reality, however, attending law school can become a financial burden for law students who fail to consider carefully the implications of their decision.”
But students like Carlton at Western State don’t see salary as the goal.
“I want to do something great with my life,” she says. “I just think it would be exciting to help people start up their own companies. I want to help people be better at what they do, and that’s what a good lawyer can do.”
What has changed is how students must look at their time during their three years of law school. It’s not enough just to get good grades.
“Law firms used to take on new lawyers and sort of train them the first year or two before taking on big responsibilities within the firm,” Switzer says. “But that’s changed: Law firms only want to hire people who are qualified to take on immediate responsibility. That means they’re looking at what you do during law school besides go to class. They’re looking for students who took the time for moot court experience or took on clerkships.”
Carlton, for example, was active in student government, a minority law association, a Christian group and the Federalist Society. Plus she held a summer clerkship.
Switzer of Western State and Schroeder of UC Irvine add that the law degree is now becoming a key to markets well beyond being a lawyer. Switzer says there is an increase in people with business backgrounds returning for law school degrees: “Business people really like lawyers who understand business. You can become a very prized member of your business firm with a law degree.”
Hsu says many of her friends are in law school hoping to get into business, and a few want an education in law so they can take over running their parents’ estates. The national Law School Survey of Student Engagement, which polled 26,000 students at 82 schools, reports that 33 percent of law school graduates expect to work in public service instead of joining law firms.
Reich, the Whittier professor, has a student in the backstage-construction business in Hollywood who wants a law degree to deal with all the legal issues facing the business.
Even so, there is a fear among some law professors that many students aren’t quite prepared for the realities of applying legal knowledge to business practices.
William Henderson, a professor at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, told the website Law.com: “The realities haven’t trickled down to the students. They all believe they are going to be in the top 10 percent of their class, and they have this vision of the profession that doesn’t exist. And law schools don’t try to dispel those myths to potential applicants.”
None of that matters to Thomas, from Chapman, an honors student who has not yet chosen her law school. She is zealously determined to be a prosecutor. Says Thomas: “I’ve known since I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to become a lawyer. I want to earn my (law) degree, not for job security or for a higher salary than other careers, but so I can finally do something I love every single day. I believe being an attorney is having the ability to give voice to people who do not have the knowledge or equipment to speak for themselves.”
The 60 carefully chosen law students at UC Irvine have a good reason to think their degrees will be special: They are the first class at the new school.
“They are building the culture of the school,” says Schroeder. “They know they are pioneers, and that’s exciting.” And by the time they graduate in two more years, UC Irvine is convinced it will be a school accredited by the American Bar Association, which is essential for their students getting good jobs. Schroeder says the school is right on track in that process.
For some recent law school graduates, there is a more immediate worry than jobs: passing the bar. They took the bar in late July, but results are not available until November. No one will hire them until that happens.
“I loved law school, but I’m anxious to start my career,” says Jasmine Ng, who was active in the International Law Student Association at Western State. “It will be good to actually make money instead of paying out money for school.”
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Jennifer Carlton, a recent graduate of Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, is fascinated by corporate law. Her goal, she says, is to help people prosper. Irene Hsu, a recent graduate of Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, doesn’t want to be a lawyer at all. She wants to write. Her dream job, she says, is to be the editor of her own magazine, or someday write books. What these three have in common: A law degree is the first step toward achieving their career ambitions. Despite the bad news out there – the job market is tough, hirings are down, law school costs are up – today’s law school students remain focused and optimistic. And most scoff at suggestions that their law degree isn’t special. “Any kind of post-undergraduate degree is almost essential these days,” says Jillian Reyes, a recent Whittier graduate. “A law degree on your resume has got to help, whatever field you pursue.” But does a law degree have the same value that it had before the new millennium? Before the recession? Gloria Switzer, a career specialist for the Dean of Admissions office at Western State, says that one’s easy to answer: “It’s still an unequivocal yes.” Getting a good job right away may be more difficult. But, Switzer adds, that’s true for many careers today. “The recession cuts across the board,” she says. What it might mean is that students may have to shift their focus from just mainstream law firms. “There are cutting-edge fields that are growing, such as environmental law, immigration, international law and health care, which is exploding,” Switzer says. “Those opportunities are out there.” Several law schools point out that Mexico is California’s largest trading partner. Many of the growing jobs in law come from transactional business between the two. But the value of the law degree, notes Elizabeth Schroeder, career specialist for the new UC Irvine School of Law, is in the education itself. “Law schools teach analytical thinking,” she says. “We prepare you to be good at whatever you do.” Peter Reich, who has taught law at Whittier for 22 years, agrees that law schools shouldn’t just teach students to become lawyers: “A law degree is valuable for anyone who wants to understand how society works, how business or government works.” Student Angira Patel, a recent Whittier graduate, concurs – and brims with confidence. Patel, who ran her own business designing Indian wedding dresses before law school, isn’t worried about getting a job – just the right job to suit her talents. “I haven’t decided on business or law,” she says, “Probably business later on. I already know I’ll be great on somebody’s board of directors. I might not have thought that before law school.” Hsu, the graduate from Costa Mesa’s Whittier Law School, is excited about her future. She earned her undergraduate degree from USC, then went on to get a master’s in critical studies – with an emphasis in creative writing – at the California Institute of the Arts in Valencia. So, why law school? “I wanted to boost my resume,” she says. “My goal is to be a writer. But after I pass the bar, I plan to apply for jobs at law firms, too. My law degree lets me keep my options open.” But here is the grim news: More than half of the country’s law programs reported a decrease of 30 percent or more in employer visits to their schools, according to The National Jurist, a publication aimed at students. Summer associate offers are down 30 percent. And the number of summer associates who received follow-up offers from the firms where they worked dropped from 90 percent to 69 percent in the past year. The anti-law-school bloggers are on the rise. Sites like Esq.Never and Third Tier Reality warn that the debt of law school isn’t worth what many students will get in their careers. (From one Esq.Never blogger: “If you are a law student who already received your first semester grades, and they aren’t top 10 percent, then my advice is to drop out now instead of throwing more money down the law school black hole.”) Even the American Bar Association, in its Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs, warns: “Far too many law students expect that earning a law degree will solve their financial problems for life. In reality, however, attending law school can become a financial burden for law students who fail to consider carefully the implications of their decision.” But students like Carlton at Western State don’t see salary as the goal. “I want to do something great with my life,” she says. “I just think it would be exciting to help people start up their own companies. I want to help people be better at what they do, and that’s what a good lawyer can do.” What has changed is how students must look at their time during their three years of law school. It’s not enough just to get good grades. “Law firms used to take on new lawyers and sort of train them the first year or two before taking on big responsibilities within the firm,” Switzer says. “But that’s changed: Law firms only want to hire people who are qualified to take on immediate responsibility. That means they’re looking at what you do during law school besides go to class. They’re looking for students who took the time for moot court experience or took on clerkships.” Carlton, for example, was active in student government, a minority law association, a Christian group and the Federalist Society. Plus she held a summer clerkship. Switzer of Western State and Schroeder of UC Irvine add that the law degree is now becoming a key to markets well beyond being a lawyer. Switzer says there is an increase in people with business backgrounds returning for law school degrees: “Business people really like lawyers who understand business. You can become a very prized member of your business firm with a law degree.” Hsu says many of her friends are in law school hoping to get into business, and a few want an education in law so they can take over running their parents’ estates. The national Law School Survey of Student Engagement, which polled 26,000 students at 82 schools, reports that 33 percent of law school graduates expect to work in public service instead of joining law firms. Reich, the Whittier professor, has a student in the backstage-construction business in Hollywood who wants a law degree to deal with all the legal issues facing the business. Even so, there is a fear among some law professors that many students aren’t quite prepared for the realities of applying legal knowledge to business practices. William Henderson, a professor at Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, told the website Law.com: “The realities haven’t trickled down to the students. They all believe they are going to be in the top 10 percent of their class, and they have this vision of the profession that doesn’t exist. And law schools don’t try to dispel those myths to potential applicants.” None of that matters to Thomas, from Chapman, an honors student who has not yet chosen her law school. She is zealously determined to be a prosecutor. Says Thomas: “I’ve known since I was a sophomore in high school that I wanted to become a lawyer. I want to earn my (law) degree, not for job security or for a higher salary than other careers, but so I can finally do something I love every single day. I believe being an attorney is having the ability to give voice to people who do not have the knowledge or equipment to speak for themselves.” The 60 carefully chosen law students at UC Irvine have a good reason to think their degrees will be special: They are the first class at the new school. “They are building the culture of the school,” says Schroeder. “They know they are pioneers, and that’s exciting.” And by the time they graduate in two more years, UC Irvine is convinced it will be a school accredited by the American Bar Association, which is essential for their students getting good jobs. Schroeder says the school is right on track in that process. For some recent law school graduates, there is a more immediate worry than jobs: passing the bar. They took the bar in late July, but results are not available until November. No one will hire them until that happens. “I loved law school, but I’m anxious to start my career,” says Jasmine Ng, who was active in the International Law Student Association at Western State. “It will be good to actually make money instead of paying out money for school.” |
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