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Building a Better Legal Profession Students Still Dream of Power

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 12:04 PM - By Elie Mystal

BBLP new book.JPGWe have given a couple of shout-outs to the students behind Building a Better Legal Profession. The student run organization tries to empower law students to make more informed choices about law firms.

But even if we stipulate that the students are motivated by the best of intentions, is now the right time for prospective associates to focus on a better working environment? Aren’t most students simply trying to find paying work, environment be damned?

The National Law Journal reports on BBLP’s National Conference of Student Leaders (which coincided with the launch of their new guide to law firms):

The two-day event focused on changing what were often painted as the evil ways of big law firms and included presentations and discussion from well-known practitioners and professors.

The goal of Building a Better Legal Profession is to create collective action among students and associates from top schools to prod large law firms to implement what it says are significant changes needed in billable hour requirements, diversity and the commitment to pro bono work. Their hope is that students and associates from the best schools will not accept jobs at firms that do not change their ways.

Is it 2006 again? It shocks the conscience to think that students would “not accept jobs” at firms that are profitable and not laying people off, simply because the profitable, not-firing-people firm doesn’t care about pro bono work.

Is BBLP doggedly idealistic, or hopelessly out of touch? More questions after the jump.

Is it possible that even in this down market, top students still have collective power over law firms? One unnamed partner doesn’t think so:

But at least one law firm leader thinks that such collective action is a bad idea. As the chairman of a major U.S. law firm, he requested anonymity to speak candidly.

“Right now, the primary focus of law students and associates, like the firms for which they work or might like to work, should be the economy, and if and when the demand for legal services will rebound,” he said.

For those not fluent in partner-speak, the anonymous law firm chairman is saying “Ha ha ha. Student concerns? You kids are so f**ked.”

Even some law firm associates are dismissive of law students’ concerns. One tipster emailed us to say:

BBLP are students and have no idea what the firm environment is like right now. Here is the best advice: look for as many billable hours as you can get, work hard, keep your head down, your mouth shut and hope to avoid the Reaper. I certainly would not be marching in to the partner’s office to request “significant changes needed in billable hour requirements, diversity and the commitment to pro bono work.”

We have no leverage in this environment, and neither does BBLP. What planet are these students living on???

The BBLP people think that students and associates do have leverage, despite these tough times. Maybe even enough power to form a “union.”

Although the word “union” was used sparingly at the event, one session was led by a union organizer. Mary Kay Henry, the international executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union, gave tips on how BBLP leaders can get other students and associates involved in the movement. “Associates have the ability to act in their own behalf with others to improve their profession,” Henry said. “The increase in billable hours expected at large firms with fewer associates to do the work has created a pressurized environment that doesn’t allow associates to perform to their expectations.”

And the students are using every tool in the box to try to keep up the pressure on law firms. Check out the Google ad that comes up in the right-hand column when you run a search for a certain law firm:

BBLP blank rome google ad-thumb-540x217.jpg

The students behind BBLP are innovative and passionate. But can they be effective in this market? Blank Rome might get an F for “diversity,” but WolfBlock gets an F for “existing.” Where would you rather work?

Bad job market aside, law students seek change [National Law Journal]
Building a Better Legal Profession’s Guide to Law Firms: The Law Student’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Law Firm Job [Barnes & Noble]
Building a Better Legal Profession’s Guide to Law Firms: The Law Student’s Guide to Finding the Perfect Law Firm Job [Borders]

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