Calling on law school grads
Situation wanted: Smart law school graduate, ready, willing and able to work.
Just a few years ago, that would rarely occur. A law degree was nearly a sure thing for getting hired. But the economy has intervened, causing law firms to scale back as business has fallen off.
As a result, this crop of law school graduates is having a harder time finding a job.
Are you one of them? AJC reporter Peralte Paul is doing a story about this and would like to hear from you.
He’s found that some firms are rescinding offers they made previously, while others are postponing the start dates. And some law school graduates planning to go into corporate law are now turning to other options, such as public service work.
Law students, what have you experienced? You can comment below or e-mail Peralte at pcpaul@ajc.com.
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3 comments Add your comment
legalbeaglenot
June 12th, 2009
6:44 pm
the class of 2009 will be called the forgotten class. pretty much every major law firm has either rescinded or delayed start dates for 2009. in fact, a lot will be starting the same year as graduates of 2010. some of the worst offenders have been large shops like Fish and Richardson. they waited until now to tell 1/3 of their class that their offer has been revoked. the market is dead and they waited until these grads had already turned down other offers, till the market was flooded with out of work IP attorneys, and just then said, yeah, we dont want you. talk about pathetic.
unfortunately, their story is not unique. some of the top law firms in the world are delaying starts, offering stipends for people to do pro bono or public service work.
Unperson
June 13th, 2009
1:15 pm
the premise of your column is faulty–in fact there has been massive unemployment for law school grads for several years now. It is not just a recent thing.
But now it is affecting even the higher ranked schools. And since you media types only pay attention to the elite part of the profession, and ignore the lower ranked schools and the fate of their grads, the oversupply in the profession is finally being shoved in your face.
Very few lawyers or grads will talk to you without anonymity. Why not come to some internet sites that talk about the dark side of the legal profession?
http://jdrefuge.ipbfree.com/
http://www.jdunderground.com/forum.php
temporaryattorney.blogspot.com/
Alton E. Drew
June 14th, 2009
10:02 am
My advice to these graduates is to do what a good friend of mine did in Florida. Take any clinicals and internships that will help you learn the logistics of practice. Go pass the bar and then hang out your shingle. Don’t tell me you can’t do it, especially if you want to eat.
Alton E. Drew
http://www.altondrew.com