11 ms·

The big distinction here is "Top 15 Law School". Almost any law school that isn't up there is basically a scam. As the law market contracts, I'd imagine that

The big distinction here is "Top 15 Law School". Almost any law school that isn't up there is basically a scam. As the law market contracts, I'd imagine that the employment prospects of top-15 schools will shielded the longest - law firms that previously couldn't hire great lawyers will realize they can hire better new lawyers once it's harder for those lawyers to get a job. My brother is at NYU Law and has a starting job next year with a starting salary around 170k. From my understanding, kids at NYU are still not struggling (at all) to get decent jobs after law school.

Chevalier 12y ago
As happy as I am for your brother, he's wrong. I went to a higher-ranked school than NYU, and a solid third of the class depended on post-grad fellowships for employment. When those fellowships expired, you started to see lots of desperate Facebook posts asking if anyone knew of any legal positions open. Some of my dearest friends were included in that group. They pretended like everything was fine among others, to avoid public humiliation, but your brother's classmates are probably suffering in silence. And it's only going to get worse as legal tasks are automated out of human hands.
Chevalier 12y ago
And just to follow up, I'm VERY surprised that your brother hasn't seen anyone struggling. NYU Law's shtick is being the most prestigious public interest feeder, where graduates go on to impact work in underserved communities. Ever since 2008, public interest and government employment has all but vanished. I don't think I've heard of ANYONE getting a permanent position in PI since the recession, with the exception of temporary fellowships or contract positions. I'm sure there are plenty of NYU grads who go on to Biglaw (like your brother), but it's not something the school is notable for. If there isn't anyone obviously struggling at NYU, that's wonderful news for the public interest community... but it's also completely contrary to what I've heard for the past six years.
- kemitchell 12y ago
  NYU's schtick isn't exclusive of feeding to BigLaw, clerkships, or highly selective government positions like Justice. Law School Numbers reports type of employment for 2013 with 64% law firms and 15% public interest. That is a lot of public interest, but it is still (traditionally) the highest-ranked school in the nation's largest market for private legal services. Michigan's numbers, to give another data point in the 14, are 56%/13% for the same period. People are still hired for public interest work out of law school. My impression is that the number, overall, is very low, and that it always has been.

Chevalier 12y ago

As happy as I am for your brother, he's wrong. I went to a higher-ranked school than NYU, and a solid third of the class depended on post-grad fellowships for employment. When those fellowships expired, you started to see lots of desperate Facebook posts asking if anyone knew of any legal positions open. Some of my dearest friends were included in that group. They pretended like everything was fine among others, to avoid public humiliation, but your brother's classmates are probably suffering in silence. And it's only going to get worse as legal tasks are automated out of human hands.

Chevalier 12y ago

And just to follow up, I'm VERY surprised that your brother hasn't seen anyone struggling. NYU Law's shtick is being the most prestigious public interest feeder, where graduates go on to impact work in underserved communities. Ever since 2008, public interest and government employment has all but vanished. I don't think I've heard of ANYONE getting a permanent position in PI since the recession, with the exception of temporary fellowships or contract positions. I'm sure there are plenty of NYU grads who go on to Biglaw (like your brother), but it's not something the school is notable for. If there isn't anyone obviously struggling at NYU, that's wonderful news for the public interest community... but it's also completely contrary to what I've heard for the past six years.

kemitchell 12y ago
NYU's schtick isn't exclusive of feeding to BigLaw, clerkships, or highly selective government positions like Justice. Law School Numbers reports type of employment for 2013 with 64% law firms and 15% public interest. That is a lot of public interest, but it is still (traditionally) the highest-ranked school in the nation's largest market for private legal services. Michigan's numbers, to give another data point in the 14, are 56%/13% for the same period. People are still hired for public interest work out of law school. My impression is that the number, overall, is very low, and that it always has been.