Law Degree Losing Its Luster?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

These students are also getting a skewed perception from friends, family, and some of their social networks (nonInternet).

I think this is one of the biggest issues with the people who get frustrated when their low-level school fails to get them "that big money." Many have heard their whole lives that education is this great equalizer and that once you have a degree--any degree--you're set and all your financial problems are gone forever and ever.

What people fail to realize, however, is that education is only one piece of the puzzle. Where you went, how you did, and who you meet along your way to said degree makes a lot of difference as well. These are often the same people who get sucked in by online schools and get the idea that if you go to law school--any law school, you'll be living large like Claire Huxtable.

How do we explain the appeal of a place like Cooley?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

I think this is one of the biggest issues with the people who get frustrated when their low-level school fails to get them "that big money." Many have heard their whole lives that education is this great equalizer and that once you have a degree--any degree--you're set and all your financial problems are gone forever and ever.

What people fail to realize, however, is that education is only one piece of the puzzle. Where you went, how you did, and who you meet along your way to said degree makes a lot of difference as well. These are often the same people who get sucked in by online schools and get the idea that if you go to law school--any law school, you'll be living large like Claire Huxtable.

How do we explain the appeal of a place like Cooley?

I agree but this is not about school tiers. There are just enough accomplished professionals who graduated from "low-level" schools and that unfortunately includes for-profit online schools. All it takes is a couple of well-established and esteemed alumnae/i to be featured in the school's Career Center or Alumnae/i Magazine and prospective students and current students believe that they too can be among the accomplished. Afterall, there are people who attend "lower-level" schools who attained the skills and networks to excel. They often had to work harder to get people to take them seriously but they tend not to tell that part of the story--unless they grow a disdain for their degree program.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

What people fail to realize, however, is that education is only one piece of the puzzle. Where you went, how you did, and who you meet along your way to said degree makes a lot of difference as well.

A J.D. is pretty unique though in that you can take it and if you can find the right clients and work the cases right, you can make big money fast even if you're a solo from a T4 school.

Lawyers are uniquely able to be very successful in a self-employed capacity as many state bars make clients essentially the separate property of individual attorneys. If they leave the firm, their clients go with them. Also, law firms are not allowed to be owned by non-lawyers.

Even grads from Cooley can do very well for themselves.

But damn.. Cooley takes profiteering to a new low.

[aggieAXO]

Originally Posted by Kevin

A J.D. is pretty unique though in that you can take it and if you can find the right clients and work the cases right, you can make big money fast even if you're a solo from a T4 school.

Lawyers are uniquely able to be very successful in a self-employed capacity as many state bars make clients essentially the separate property of individual attorneys. If they leave the firm, their clients go with them. Also, law firms are not allowed to be owned by non-lawyers.

Even grads from Cooley can do very well for themselves.

But damn.. Cooley takes profiteering to a new low.

It use to be that veterinary hospitals could only be owned by vets and in some states this still holds true. But, corporations are taking over and with their deep pockets are able to somehow bypass this rule (think Banfield-the bane of most private practioner's existence). Students are graduating with so much debt now, many private practioners are in fear of not being able to sell to anyone but a corporation-it really is a sad state of affairs. I am glad I am close to getting out of the profession full time.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Lawyers are uniquely able to be very successful in a self-employed capacity as many state bars make clients essentially the separate property of individual attorneys. If they leave the firm, their clients go with them. Also, law firms are not allowed to be owned by non-lawyers.

Even grads from Cooley can do very well for themselves.

But damn.. Cooley takes profiteering to a new low.

I wish architecture and engineering were like that. If I leave, I lose my clients automatically. Typically, if a senior architect or engineer leaves, the clients will stay unless the firm is just piss-poor or if the client is only there because of said engineer or architect.

I don't doubt that Cooley grads can do well for themselves. I live behind a courthouse, and I definitely see a few Cooley tags on cars--one is definitely a judge. I think a place like Cooley might work for someone with a lot of initiative and realistic expectations.