I found your site through the interview you had with Steve on lsatblog.blogspot.com.

I don’t really have a dog in this fight, but after reading through all the comments I wanted to at least mention that A) you’re certainly entitled to believe this and defend it as true (as if it can be proven one way or the other!) and B) I respect the way that you handled attacks on your view and offered personal responses to most of them.

As was mentioned in the Yale 203 blog (written by assistant dean Asha Rangappa), the law is much more than just arguing- as many prospective students seem to feel. Your polite and respectful rebuttals against comments were a great example of how to pleasantly disagree with someone who doesn’t share your viewpoint. Say your piece and let the courts decide, right?

That being said, if I enter the legal profession it will be to sell my soul to BigLaw. I mean it. I’m talking fat cigars, brandy from crystal decanters, massive lunches that lead me to an overweight and early death, and scores of shattered and broken relationships strung behind me like dead Indians on the trail of tears. (too much?)

But realize, I already work for the Government so even that grim picture is an improvement!

Nice blog

Caleb

I think the advice and the premise of the name recognition by the cliquey hiring attorneys makes sense. Yes because of the GLUT of new lawyers destroying the pay grades and inflating competition every year, she said only the top schools should remain, but in all honesty I feel not everyone will want to relocate for the top schools, and if the schools were closed, there would eventually be a SHORTAGE of lawyers and many people across the country would not be able to afford legal representation, it’s already a problem despite too many lawyers.

Many cannot afford to relocate to the northeast where most of the top schools are, many don’t want to, even if they made a 175 on the LSAT and have top grades and killer essays. this is the land of opportunity so i think states should have the option of at least one law school in every major area of the state. But even with the top schools there is a glut of them near one major market! So while I see Ivey’s point, I see yours. Cause to me…what is the point of NYU when Columbia and Cornell are nearby?

I know to aim for the top or go to school where i want to live and practice due to research on the internet before jumping into law school. LSAC.org and the US Dept. of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook are great reliable places to start. People rush into trends and hype without research and then blame the schools.

Because one thing i think is that law is the only profession you can start up for yourself from day 1. All this running around looking for a corporate ladder to climb is ridiculous, if you’re going to be unemployed and broke while looking, instead follow Robert Kiyosaki’s advice and Own Your Own corporation. As in your solo practice. Not every field lends itself to this but if you are willing to slave in a basement doing doc review you are certainly willing to pick up a SENSIBLE area of law to put food on your table. People need to stop waiting on everything to be handed to them and say hey, where am i now, where do i want to be, what do i need to do to get there. Incorporate and start practicing out of your living room if the job market is so sour. Family lawyers, for example never run out of style…serve some area that is short on competition or short on lawyers who look like you. And look, i didn’t even have to go to law school to think of that…it does mean networking and researching things like solosez to see how others are doing it…asking the expensive lawyers to send cases too small for them your way, and sending things you can handle their way, etc. If you know you are not biglaw material start making connections in the legal world and maintaining them before you even go to your first 1L class.

hell, that’s what I’m doing. Solo is my goal even if i get a little public interest experience first. Not kissing a** at Cravath or Sullivan & Cromwell.

Read the comments after the article for great insights.

The point is that for many, law school is NOT worth the sacrifice. Call me a “whiner” if you will, but that would be a copout. The old “network!” advice is only helpful to those who are natural-born salesmen/women, and is far too often the fallback recommendation of career development offices which only cater to the top 10-15% of their classes. You really need to make sure that your advice goes beyond simply getting into law school, but also the scenario that awaits many who do get in. You should then advise those who are still dead set on going on how to avoid the many pitfalls. When I first got into law school, the internet as we know it was not around, and so I never had as much potential info regarding the reality of the job market. You shouldn’t chide those who are sharing their negative experiences; on the contrary, it is a necessity for an informed decision.

The is a difference between idealization in moderation and being sanguine. The former is good, but the latter is reckless, and I do hope the latter is not being imparted by your posts to potential law school applicants.

I am not sure I have anything further to add to the substantive part of the conversation without sharing personal stories of my friends (that others might argue aren’t relevant in today’s job market, and for all I know this might be right).

I stand by my comments; I’m an optimist and perhaps even an idealist. But here’s the thing. I know a ton of lawyers who went to California Bar schools (and not even Tier 3 or 4 ABA schools) who have wonderful law practices and work hard and make good livings, even in the awful job and housing market where I live (in Santa Barbara, CA). I have friends who went to Santa Clara, California Western, McGeorge, USF, USD, Loyola, Kent, etc. who are all prominent lawyers working alongside those who went to name brand law schools – they are partners in private practice, city attorneys and district attorneys….

I believe there are always bitter people in the world. And life is harder for some than others, and I don’t want to invite everyone to tell me their life stories and why they weren’t on law review or why they didn’t earn amazing grades, or why life is inherently unfair.

I am not a career counselor and I don’t keep up with employment trends. I work with people who have made the educated and research-driven decision to apply to law school. And I help them get into better law schools than their numbers would predict, more often than not.
I encourage people. I use my professional background to give candid predictions and evaluations.
I don’t say my services are for everyone, and I provide free advice on my blog to address common issues faced by law school applicants.

I’ve received wonderful e-mails this week from my clients thanking me for my help and happy with their results. My clients are excited about the prospects of law school – I don’t try to sway anyone. I just help people reach the goals they have already established for themselves.

I stand by my original email. I believe the way into law practice is a small or medium sized firm with opportunities for mentorship. I believe in the power of networking and maintaining professionally based relationships with your law school colleagues and acting above-the-bar in all conduct. This is pure speculation but it seems logical that people who whine on the internet are whiners in life, and it’s not a big surprise they’re struggling upon entering the legal field….