Biglaw, Job Searches, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, Wall Street Journal

Non-Top-Tier Law Schools: Brooklyn Law Strikes Back

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Reactions were varied to Amir Efrati’s controversial, widely read, front-page Wall Street Journal story about the job prospects for graduates of non-elite law schools. Some students and alumni of non-top-tier law schools hailed the piece for revealing some dirty secrets about American legal education. But not everyone was so pleased.
From a tipster at Brooklyn Law School:

I thought you would be interested in hearing about a BLS Career Services breakfast held this morning. Apparently the director of Career Services at BLS, Joan King, was asked about her reaction to the WSJ article. (Note: this breakfast is an annual event, and was not held as a reaction to the article).

Ms. King said she was contacted in the research-gathering stage by the WSJ author, who interviewed her about the job market for BLS students. She believes that there were some omissions in the article, and that the writer had an agenda: to prove his hypothesis, without highlighting some additional facts.

Amir Efrati, if you see Joan King in a dark alley, turn the other way — and RUN. If you mess with a girl from Brooklyn, you WILL regret it.
And there’s more. Check it out, after the jump.


Still from our BLS tipster:

[Ms. King] also argued that the treatment the article gave to contract attorney work was too derogatory in tone. The article ignored the facts that (1) contract attorney work can be rather lucrative, not only in monetary terms, but in terms of opportunities; and (2) many lawyers like contract attorney work, because of the freedom it allows (and again for the money it offers). She went on to say that they have not heard that the market is being scaled back in hiring, and that the outlook is good.

So what does our source think of Joan King’s rebuttal to the WSJ?

While all of this is well and good, I think non-top tier law schools ignore or fail to seek out non-traditional opportunities for lawyers (compliance, banking or other areas of business). They tend to stick to only firm and government work.

Additionally, the issue that was not addressed was the major problem of BLS graduates’ crushing law school debt, and the lack of lucrative job opportunities (other than big firms) that will actually allow students to pay down their debt — and simultaneously allow for the consumption of foods other than ramen.

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So, so true. Is it any wonder that one of Brooklyn Law’s most famous student bodies, Adriana Dominguez (above right), was exploring an alternative career?
Hard Case: Job Market Wanes for U.S. Lawyers [WSJ Law Blog]
Earlier: Loyola 2L Hits the Big Time (Even If Not the Big Law)

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