At first glance, law school may seem like a speedy path to a great career. The prestige associated with graduation is certain to appease the most demanding parents; it seems like the natural choice for a well-rounded intellectual. Turns out, there’s more to law school than meets the eye. Career experts and legal professionals have long known the truth behind the law school industry…but do you?
Upon closer examination, one thing becomes abundantly clear. Lawyers and law professionals are dissatisfied with their careers to such an extent, that an entirely new industry evolved to help them escape. As a result, an abundance of new sites such as J.D. Careers Out There were created specifically to help lawyers transition out of law and into traditional careers. Liz Brown, author of Life After Law: Finding Work You Love with the J.D. You Have, had this to say regarding the matter: “Law is the only career I know that has a sub-profession dedicated to helping people get out of it.”
Among those who share this sentiment is Forbes. They state, “Today’s legal job market is fairly grim. Depending on which set of statistics you believe, the number of available jobs for those will law degrees will meet or exceed the number of law school graduates by 2016, 2017 or 2021. What is clear is that it won’t happen in 2013. Or in 2014.” Beyond the TV show glamor of a legal career lives the grim reality of the industry: An overwhelming number of lawyers are overworked, burnt out, and laid out to dry with an expensive degree and intolerable career.
Still not convinced? Key experts also agree, and many encourage current law students to seek a career outside of the industry. According to Forbes, even law firms such as Willens Law echo the sentiment, offering a thousand dollars to any graduate school applicant not entering school with, “anything But Law School Graduate Scholarship.” Attorney Matt Willens calls it, “…an antidote, of sorts, to becoming over-educated and unhappy at law school.”
It goes without saying that the analytical and communicative skills learned in law school have empirical value. But life is short, and law school is a massive commitment. Deep, objective self examination is necessary before making such commitments, and refusing to apply due diligence risks massive financial and personal loss. Take a close look at the industry, and save yourself the peril of massive student debt and personal crisis. It’s worth it to know.
Source: (The Atlantic)