I'm Thinking...Maybe I Want To Go To Law School?

Prior to 2016, there was a decrease in demand for a legal education. Then all of a sudden, the number of people seeking a J.D. has increased. The Law School Admission Council (“LSAC”) published a report that shows that as of mid-January, there was an 11% increase in the number of law school applications submitted in the 2018-19 cycle in comparison to the 2017-2018 cycle. The study also showed that 27.9% more LSAT tests were administered in December 2017 than in 2016. So what caused this? What’s the tea sis? It’s simple: It can be attributed to one of two things: (1) a desire for people to achieve more economic growth; and (2) the political news cycle.

Millennials were the first generation to experience graduating from undergrad institutions and having limited job opportunities. A lot of entry level jobs require extremely high GPA’s or a second degree, so people became more enticed to go back to school, especially law school. Austen Parrish, dean and professor at the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University—Bloomington, said that the increase in applications reflects the U.S. economy's health; applications are rising because college graduates rush into law school to escape a slow job market. So a lot of young people, are seeking economic growth through getting a second degree, specifically a law degree. Also, since the 2016 election, a lot of stories on the news have featured lawyers and judges! Experts say these stories have inspired young adults to apply to law school when they otherwise would not have. People want to know their rights! For example, with so many black people being murdered at the hands of police, including Tamir Rice, Eric Garner, and Sandra Bland…more black people are wanting to go into the legal profession to not only learn our own individual rights, but learn how to protect others.

Although law school seems like an amazing decision, attending law school should be very very carefully considered. In 2018, Cravath, one of the top five law firms in the country, raised their entry level salary to $190,000. Now, a lot of BigLaw starting salaries are rising to $190,000. This explains why law school is becoming a top spot for recent college graduates (we want cheese, dinero, pesos, guala, money, BENJAMINS). Although this salary is extremely enticing, given the volatility of the legal job market and the effects of globalization and technology on the business of law— prospective students should definitely pause before taking out $200,000 in school loans. If you’re going to law school to make this coveted $190,000, you probably won’t. Few lawyers will see those highly coveted $190,000 salaries as first-year associates. According to US News & World Report, the median salary for a lawyer in 2016 was $118,160. More specifically, the median for a private sector salary amongst 2016 graduates was $68,375. Unless you are graduating at the top of your class from a Tier 1 law school, the average student loan debt of more than $100,000 and a salary that is lower than the amount of debt you owe is definitely…not the wave. There is also a decreasing demand for entry-level lawyers. Again, because of the effects of globalization and technology, much of the legal work that is traditionally performed by newly hired associates is no longer needed.

But enough of the negative! There are several reasons why people should consider attending law school. It’s a great education that will provide foundational skills, such as analytical thinking and persuasion capabilities, that translate to both legal and non-legal careers. It can also be an extremely powerful social justice tool! Access to justice is tangentially related because legal services funding has been drastically cut in recent years, resulting in reduced access. Fighting for the rights of others and the rights of people in your community is precisely what you will be taught! If advocacy is your goal, then I highly encourage it. But if you are just applying as a social trend/to avoid applying for jobs lol...then I highly discourage it.