Law school v. reality of economics

Remember the good ol’ days when the grueling work of law school paid off with a prestigious, high-paying career? Soaring tuition, poor job prospects, and dwindling salaries are changing that perception. Enrollment is at a historic low, casting the future of the legal profession into uncertainty. So what’s behind the decline? Join us Wed. at 7:30pm ET as we discuss the effects on students and society.

On this episode of The Stream, we'll speak to: 

Walter Olson @walterolson
Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
overlawyered.com

Paul Campos
Professor, University of Colorado Law School
lawyersgunsandmoney.com

Gillian Hadfield @ghadfield
Professor, USC Gould School of Law
weblaw.usc.edu

Andrew Post
Law School Graduate

What do you think? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Many people who decide to pursue legal education do so thinking that it will make them more competitive when searching for jobs or will increase their likelihood of earning a higher income. Yet last year, approximately 180 of the 202 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association were unable to find jobs for more than 80 percent of their graduates. 

Not only are recent law school graduates unable to find work, they also face severe debt. The average law school student graduates with $100,000 in student loan debt. The bleak economic climate for new lawyers is having an impact on law schools' efforts to recruit new students. Last year nearly two-thirds of American law schools reported a decline in first-year enrollment.