The Verdict Is in on the Lottery, Why not Law School?

Jenn Ladd, “Law School Letdown,” the Baltimore Sun. The article isn’t bad, but the tagline is: “With a hefty price tag and a shrinking number of jobs, is law school worth all the effort? The verdict is still out.” The Sun, though, is in sort of a bind. Often local newspapers will only consider their [...]

NYSBA Journal Article Relies on Several Logical Fallacies to ‘Connect the Dots’ on Legal Education’s Outlook

Gary Munneke, “Race to the Finish Line: Legal Education, Jobs and the Stuff dreams are made of,” New York State Bar Association Journal Citing his 40-years’ observation of the legal job market, Pace Law School professor Gary Munneke writes, “So when I say the writers and bloggers in the legal press have missed the mark [...]

Will the ABA Law Student Division Respond?

On Wednesday, February 1, 2012, the Internet amused me, for on the same day, two items popped up. (1) Joint Statement of ABA Law Student Division Chair Tremaine “Teddy” Reese and Young Lawyers Division Chair Michael G. Bergmann Re: ABA and Young Lawyers, Law Students, ABA Now “Law students and young lawyers face more stress [...]

Not Your Parents’ (or Grandparents’) Profession

In a post a few weeks ago, I teased the BEA for a clear typo on its Web site. For my previous Am Law Daily post, which was based on that, I called the BEA to find out what was what. Turns out my guess of 1,277,000 persons engaged in industry was close (coincidentally), it [...]

‘New BEA Data Showing Legal Sector Grew 2.3 Percent in 2010 No Reason to Celebrate’ up on Am Law Daily

New post on the Am Law Daily: “New BEA Data Showing Legal Sector Grew 2.3 Percent in 2010 No Reason to Celebrate“ Somewhat improved over the original post, as always.

Two Worlds, Side by Side: ABA Journal & Letter from Law School

I received a letter from my law school subtly informing me that my name would be placed on “the permanent donor wall located near the entrance” if I gave a gift or commitment of $5,000. The same day, the ABA Journal published Bill Henderson’s article titled, “The Law School Bubble: How Long Will It Last [...]

Good News! The Legal Sector Grew 2.3 Percent in 2010! The Bad News? Everything Else.

On December 13, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) updated its “GDP-by-Industry” page, which means it released all sorts of useful information on what happened to the legal sector of the U.S. economy in 2010, the sector that employs the vast majority of lawyers. Skipping the soup & salad, we find that in 2010, the [...]

Discredited Cooley Arguments Just … Won’t … DIE!

Today’s installment of law school zombie arguments comes from none other than Nelson Miller, dean of Cooley’s branch campus in Grand Rapids, who asked for an editorial slot on The Careerist, operated by Vivia Chen, who writes, “[H]e wanted to present a view that’s ‘data-based.’” Miller then presents data that are wholly irrelevant. Data shows [...]

How Switching to a Two-Year Law Degree Hoses Law Students

One common suggestion throughout legal ed reform discussions is reducing law school from three years to two. The argument is that the third year is useless, so dump it. I should say right now that I don’t think it’s a good idea, not because the third year is useful but because cutting legal education down [...]

At Least the Strib Didn’t Call It a “Golden Ticket”

“Law school is no longer a sure bet. Would-be students are noticing.” –Jenna Ross, “Slump in law school applicants,” Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) Progress perhaps? *Sigh* The swell of students applying to law school — despite growing debt and contracting job prospects — has slowed. ?? “Despite” growing debt and contracting job prospects? Not “Because [...]