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Could Law School Be the Worst Higher Education Investment?
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal ^ | November 11, 2020 | George Leef

Posted on 11/11/2020 5:19:13 AM PST by karpov

For decades, law school was a growth industry. Back in 1970, there were 146 law schools with an enrollment of 78,000 students; by 2013, there were 201 schools, enrolling 139,000 students. Enrollment peaked in 2010 at 147,000. (For the current year, it seems that enrollments will probably remain level with last year.)

By 2015, we were seeing articles such as this one in the Wall Street Journal: “Fewer and Fewer Students are Applying to Law School.” A number of law schools have closed since 2017, including Valparaiso, Whittier, Savannah, Arizona Summit, and Charlotte. More are on thin ice.

Evidently, many prospective law students were figuring out that the high cost of three years of study necessary to earn a JD just wasn’t worth it in a glutted market and were choosing other paths after college.

Just how right they were is highlighted in a new study by the Texas Public Policy Foundation entitled, “Objection! Law schools can be hazardous to students’ financial health.”

(Excerpt) Read more at jamesgmartin.center ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Education
KEYWORDS: lawschool
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1 posted on 11/11/2020 5:19:13 AM PST by karpov
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To: karpov

As always, it depends on the caliber of student and school.


2 posted on 11/11/2020 5:20:16 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: karpov

I would think no, but any “gender/ethnicity/intimate behavior/social justice” studies would make the top of the list of worthless fields of indoctrination.


3 posted on 11/11/2020 5:24:03 AM PST by HombreSecreto (The life of a repo man is always intense)
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To: karpov

Unless you graduated from a top 10 law school...you will never make much and the cost/benefit of college makes no sense.


4 posted on 11/11/2020 5:24:14 AM PST by 2banana (Common ground with islamic terrorists-they want to die for allah and we want to arrange the meeting)
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To: 9YearLurker

Not if you learn to steal. Elections for instance.


5 posted on 11/11/2020 5:24:15 AM PST by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: 9YearLurker

“caliber of student and school.”

I know a lot of people who went to Law school and pass the bar. I make more money and paid a fraction of what they paid for school.

I think it is more of the caliber of student then School. School can open doors but success is up to the student.


6 posted on 11/11/2020 5:26:01 AM PST by DEPcom
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To: DIRTYSECRET

“Not if you learn to steal. Elections for instance.”

Like button click


7 posted on 11/11/2020 5:26:29 AM PST by DEPcom
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To: karpov

I live in Central Ohio, where there are 2 law schools. The state of Ohio has 8 law schools; many of us have wondered when that number will be winnowed.

I know many attorneys, and I teach at an undergrad college. If any of my students tell me that they are interested in law school, I say (echoing what my attorney friends tell me): Don’t do it, unless, somehow, you can emerge debt-free and you have a guaranteed job in a law firm (for example, a family firm that you can walk into).


8 posted on 11/11/2020 5:26:38 AM PST by Remole
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To: 2banana
Unless you graduated from a top 10 law school...you will never make much and the cost/benefit of college makes no sense.

That just isn't true. I have known people who have graduated from non-Top 10 law schools who do just fine. For example, there's a whole world of corporate attorneys who do well, and certain specialties that also are at full employment. One long-time friend graduated from John Marshall School of Law and has been employed as a real estate attorney specializing in big real estate/developments (e.g. shopping malls, office building, reinsurance, etc.). Only about 600 attorneys in his field, and personal reputation is important, but he has earned a good living for decades.
9 posted on 11/11/2020 5:30:38 AM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics)
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To: karpov

The whole university-paradigm is completely broken.

Tuitions are out-of-control. Universities in 2020 are a terrible investment. They are the socialist’s greatest indoctrination tool.

Law schools are certainly a huge part of the problem.


10 posted on 11/11/2020 5:35:36 AM PST by BrexitBen
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To: DEPcom

Yes, the ability and dedication of the person always wins out

But an okay law student at a good school still has an advantage over the same student at a bad school.


11 posted on 11/11/2020 5:35:45 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: DIRTYSECRET

All too true in our massively corrupted world.


12 posted on 11/11/2020 5:39:36 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: karpov

Education for criminals.


13 posted on 11/11/2020 5:42:28 AM PST by cp124 (Time for a new America.)
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To: karpov
"Here is a dime. Call your mother and tell her that you are not going to be a lawyer."


14 posted on 11/11/2020 5:46:25 AM PST by Yo-Yo ( is the /sarc tag really necessary?)
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To: Remole

Sometime ago I read that if you take into account the number of people that have law degrees but do not practice law, the average lawyer salary is $14,000 a year.


15 posted on 11/11/2020 5:46:56 AM PST by super7man (Madam Defarge, knitting, knitting, always knitting.)
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To: 2banana

Justice Amy Barrett graduated from Notre Dame law school, ranked #22


16 posted on 11/11/2020 5:52:49 AM PST by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: Remole

You and your attorney friends are wrong. The problems faced by Lawyers who graduated between maybe 1995 and 2005 will never be fixed. But, the glut of baby boomer lawyers are retiring. There will be plenty of work for lawyers just getting started now.


17 posted on 11/11/2020 6:12:38 AM PST by Kaisersrsic
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To: Kaisersrsic

What went wrong for the 1995-2005 law grads, just out of curiosity?


18 posted on 11/11/2020 6:25:20 AM PST by tellw (ed)
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To: DEPcom
An attorney I know is pulling down 400k a year.

That isn't crumbs.

19 posted on 11/11/2020 6:27:49 AM PST by ealgeone
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To: karpov

I gave it 2 months and quit. BS

It’s all how much justice you can pay for (next to none for most people) and they make it up as they go.

Went into computers instead. If you know what’s in it, you know what you’ll get.


20 posted on 11/11/2020 6:33:47 AM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (Reverse Wickard v Filburn (1942) - and - ISLAM DELENDA EST)
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