If you ask your law school what percentage of graduating students are employed nine months after graduation, you might get a pleasant surprise. In an economic climate where firms are cutting back on new hires even as law schools graduate record numbers of students, the picture looks rosy. Unfortunately, that healthy glow is often the product of tinted glasses and not because demand for lawyers is increasing.

1. Feature
Rose Colored Glasses
By Joshua Nave
If you ask your law school what percentage of graduating students are employed nine months after graduation, you might get a
pleasant surprise. In an economic climate where firms are cutting back on new hires even as law schools graduate record numbers of
students, the picture looks rosy. Unfortunately, that healthy glow is often the product of tinted glasses and not because demand for
lawyers is increasing.
Law schools are required by the American Bar Association to ABA is considering requiring the schools themselves to collect
accurately report the percentage of employed graduates but and provide the information to prospective students when
they don’t have to break down the numbers further. What is they receive their letters of acceptance. NALP, meanwhile,
usually not included in their figures are things like the number continues to call for the elimination of employment figures as
of graduates with part time employment, jobs that don’t a data point in law school rankings altogether.
require JD’s, or students employed by the school as a way of
boosting the numbers. That may change soon. The proposal is aimed at managing expectations in light of
increased law school enrollment and new law schools popping
The ABA requires schools to report generic employment up in a time when demand for lawyers is down.
numbers as part of their accreditation. According to this article
in the National Law Journal, the accreditation committee is If the ABA moves ahead with the plan it won’t happen until
preparing to recommend greater transparency requirements. late 2011.
Much of this information is already collected by NALP, but the
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