Law Students

A Law Degree Opens Doors....right?

By Tyler Larsen

Law degrees should open doors right? I know that everyone on campus has been looking and planning ahead for the summer. There has been a buzz on campus about the exclusive on campus interviews for the top 15% of students. If you are one of those that has the opportunity to interview on campus with the big firms, congratulations. That is awesome! But there are quite a few that don't get the opportunity to interview on campus.

So what do people do who don't get the opportunity to interview on campus? Or what do those students that do interview on campus do that are not extended an offer from the on campus interviews? Work hard on getting your name around to people you know in the law world. Volunteer at the public defender's office. Take classes on campus. What am I going to do? Personally, I'm pursuing a joint degree so I am going to take some classes from the MBA track that I started last summer. I also plan on working for any business that will have me. I want to get any relevant experience I can out of the summer break.

I had the opportunity to visit with a friend about his feelings about his plans for the summer. We both expressed the frustrations of what our prospects are for the summer. I mean we spend a ton of money to pursue this prestigious degree hoping that it will open doors to more money and a solid career. Couple the things we hear about prospects for 1L's with some of the magazine articles on law school, and you can get a good group of frustrated kids. In several of the past issues of the ABA magazine, there have been articles on post graduation job prospects and pay. Several articles have been on the trouble law students have with balancing the debt of law school with low starting wages. The information portrayed in these magazines can be a little intimidating.see Wall Street Journal Article link

I have no doubt the degree will pay off. Right now it might be a little tough to see that, but it will pay off. A law degree is a very desirable degree. It is also a very flexible degree that can be put to use in many different ways. Several other industries are grabbing up lawyers because of the critical thinking skills that the regiment of law school develops. So keep the chin up classmates and fellow future lawyers across the nation, we will survive!

Full post as published by Law School Survivor on February 15, 2008 (boomark / email).