[HelloKitty22]

Also, people need to remember taxes aren't fee for service. You don't pay school tax in relation to how much you "get out" of the schools. You pay it because your community has made a decision that its wants to provide schools which are open to everyone in the community regardless of whether they can pay or whether they own homes. If school tax was about how much you used the schools or how much you "get out" of the schools there would be no point to public school. There'd just be private school and that's it.

Note: NALP is a nationally recognized organization which every ABA aproved law school is a member of. They do the largest survey of associates and law students in the country. In addition, most larger employers participate in the NALP survey and give them direct hiring info.
Truthfully, I don't know where you live but I think you are somewhat misinformed on lawyer's salaries. I know people in large cities, rural towns, big and small law firms and I haven't heard anything about such depressed salaries. Much of the drop from 9/11 has bounced back. And except for a few people I know who work for very poor non-profits or have clerkships (which as you know is a temporary thing you do for the experience), I don't know any people making less than 45K (not even people who graduated from less prestigious law schools).