We all know about the difficult legal job market facing current law students. But is it so bad that J.D. candidates would have been better off never going to law school in the first place?
At Columbia Law School — the fourth best law school in the country according to U.S. News — is suggesting that job seekers crash the undergraduate job fair. A tipster puts it this way:

Recruiting is bad this year, as you know, but CLS is just highlighting it by recommending we attend an UNDERGRADUATE career fair. It says it is open to all, and that is true, but when you look at the actual companies and organizations coming to the career fair the vast majority require only a bachelors, and none want a law degree specifically. Great to know that $200k+ and 3 years of lost opportunity cost can leave you in the same position as if you never went in the first place.

Isn’t having a J.D. supposed to enhance your job prospects?
Let’s have a look at this email, after the jump.

From a certain perspective, the CLS career services office would be derelict in its duties if it didn’t encourage students to pursue any and all options:

Dear Students,
As a reminder, Fall OCI interviews have begun! Please be sure to check Symplicity and make sure that you know which interviews you received on your schedule. You are responsible for all interviews unless you cancel before 12 pm on the day prior to the interview. There are a number of students waitlisted for each employer attending OCI this year, and we would hate to see any slots go to waste.
We also encourage you to attend the upcoming Fall Career Fair this Friday at Lerner Hall from 11 am – 4 pm. The event is being hosted by the Center for Career Education, is open to all 2L and 3L law students, and will feature organizations from a wide range of industries looking to hire for internship and full-time positions. More information, including a list of employers, can be found at: [Redacted]

Can I get some fries with that?
Is it time for law students to go back to college to look for jobs? Is a J.D. from a top five law school really just a large weight hanging around the neck of future graduates?
I really hope that people thinking of entering the legal class of 2013 are paying attention.
Earlier: Thoughts On the Global Economic Meltdown From Columbia University