Posted on 03/10/2015 8:08:38 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
“March madness” holds a different meaning in the legal world. While most of the country looks forward to fast breaks and Cinderella upsets, law schools are bracing themselves for another type of madness: the annual carnage left by the U.S. News & World Report rankings.
This year’s rankings drop on March 10, to be followed by the usual chaos. Deans at highly placed law schools will issue news releases; deans with less fortunate rankings will have their already hectic lives turned upside down.
The lucky ones will get fired. The unlucky ones will have to deal with the fallout. A flood of e-mails. Emergency faculty meetings. Ad Hoc Committees on Law School Progress in U.S. News Rankings. (That is an actual committee.) Adding to the insanity is that all law schools will be the same the day after the ranking as they were the day before. Law schools are in trouble, but not in a way that the U.S. News rankings can signal.
No law school has figured out how to handle the new normal of legal education: the lowest number of applicants in four decades; fewer legal jobs for graduates, and, according to Moody’s, “no relief in sight.”
While some argue that going to law school is still a safe bet, little evidence exists to support this position. The most elite law schools — the top 1 percent — will thrive. The other 99 percent: not so much.
Law schools are currently in a bidding war for the students with the highest LSATs and GPAs because U.S. News heavily emphasizes those factors in its rankings. Students with higher LSATs tend to have a higher socioeconomic status; poorer law students lose out on scholarships and end up paying full tuition, financed through student loans, subsidizing their richer classmates.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
“...Students with higher LSATs tend to have a higher socioeconomic status; poorer law students lose out on scholarships and end up paying full tuition, financed through student loans, subsidizing their richer classmates.”
And there it is! The typical Marxist class warfare rant, and the underlying intent of the article ... No surprise, since it is from the Washington Commie-Post!
“You know, lawyers. And the best job for many of them is POLITICS. Why?... almost all politicians are lawyers...”
I know you meant to write: “Why? ... almost all politicians are LIARS”
Funny how the LSAT scores nose dive slightly lags the O-Hole’s election in 2008.
I've never pahhhhh pahhhh passed a bar in my life. (hic). Apologies to Foster Brooks.
We need law school grads to make pizza.
I always felt that learning depends largely on you as a person -- your skills, intelligence, motivation. No one can simply be parked in front of a book -- or computer -- and become instant scholar. In a sense, you either have it or you don't.
However, universities do offer the structure & focus needed to maintain discipline. For this, I will give them credit. Self-learning only works with those who make it a habit.
Re law school -- maybe only those who truly love the study & practice of law should be there, and not the liberal arts majors simply in search of work.
I used to think the average lawyer was well schooled in the constitution. I’ve found that most are largely ignorant.
“The most elite law schools — the top 1 percent — will thrive. The other 99 percent: not so much.”
This is baloney. There are roughly 200 law schools in the US. So, only two will thrive?
I have often wondered what the business climate would be for a highly technical individual that goes into software patent law...
(Not looking for a change, just thinking “out loud”)
I attended a debate between Chris Coons and Christine O’Donnell at Widener Law School in 2008. O’Donnell challenged Coons to name the five freedoms in the 1st Amendment (Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly and right to redress grievances).
Of course, the self-styled Marxist could not/would not answer. What was really telling though was the response from the audience, a large number of them law students and faculty.
Laughter - not at the failure to answer, but at the question. As if it was unimportant.
If you ever get a chance to watch daytime TV on a weekday (on Labor Day or something similar), you’ll see a succession of lawyers in commercials asking if anyone ever farted near you. If so, give them a call!
The glut of lawyers has created a surge in ambulance chasers.
The panache of a degree from the best of the schools allows those students from such schools to get any new job that might have gone to a long-term unemployed attorney (wouldn't you rather have a new Harvard grad than an unemployed University of Oregon grad?).
This glut is getting communicated to new students, who are going to explore industries which can offer gainful employment, instead.
There is no question that there are too many lawyers, and too many law schools.
But the article says that only 1% of law schools will thrive. That's roughly two. The author is asserting that there is room for only two prosperous law schools in the US.
I think that's baloney.
sitetest
Or one multiplex. The number of theaters a town needs is directly proportional to the number of teenagers and young adults who need somewhere to go on date night. Especially teenagers, because they're usually not in bars.
I will not dispute that this is better than learning on your own, but I have come to regard the University system as a lot like malware that might do something useful, but at the same time infect your system with something horrible and difficult to get rid of. (Indoctrination in a Leftest world view.)
Considering that, along with the excessive cost (for the actual services rendered) and the deal becomes all that much worse. The Cost vs Benefit equation doesn't balance.
Universities cost far too much for that little "extra" they deliver over and above learning on your own. Even Glenn Reynolds often points out you would be better off investing the money used to pay for University schooling rather than spending it for a "credential."
Another aspect of my thinking is that if all these left wing socialist professors want to preach socialism, the least they can do is live it, and stop getting so much money for their labor.
They should only get so much money as they need to live humbly, just as a good communist peasant should.
:)
Note to self: NEVER follow a blind link again.
F’ing bi-blog.
8000? Bet you had stop lights too. Me - 600, still had original yellow stop signs, no stop lights.
Topped out at one point in the early 1900s at around 1500. Had a theater then till the fire in the 20s. Never really came back from that.
But you had to keep your eyes open when driving the highway through town...mainly cause it was an S-shape and you didn’t want to end up in the Jones house before heading out of town.
“8000? Bet you had stop lights too. Me - 600, still had original yellow stop signs, no stop lights.”
I’m so urban/suburban I would get all twitchy if I didn’t have a 24 hour store 5-10 minutes away. :-)
.
You’re right about the leftist part. To me, many, if not most, traditional establishments are in a state of decadence. Why? Because they are being run mainly by feminists, gays & minorities.
As far as $$: College might offer certain amenities or supplementary activities (i.e. sports, clubs) to broaden the academic experience, so that is maybe a selling point. But even these are under attack from the PC crowd, who will only allow those that further left-wing causes.
The only viable colleges might be the faith-based. They still respect the Western canon. A student might get a classical education with practical, vocational training. (Especially as many of these students learn “on the job” while doing missionary work.)
I agree with you — I’d rather customize my own courses through different avenues (books, software, websites). Less time & money wasted on drivel.
“
This is baloney. There are roughly 200 law schools in the US. So, only two will thrive?
“
PLEASE! Don’t be a dream killer!
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