Another Alleged Break-In at a Top-Tier Law School

Some people believe that attending a "top 14" law school will magically guarantee you a job. If that's the case, why are so many "T14" law students trying to force their way into law offices? Or, to be more precise, law school offices. A few months ago, we wrote about a UVA law student who was charged with breaking and entering. The space in question: the registrar's office. Could that have been the beginning of a trend? Over the holiday weekend, two students at another leading law school were arrested after an alleged break-in....

Some people believe that attending a “top 14” law school will magically guarantee you a job. If that’s the case, why are so many “T14” law students trying to force their way into law offices?

Or, to be more precise, law school offices. A few months ago, we wrote about a UVA law student who was charged with breaking and entering. The space in question: the registrar’s office. The police alleged that the student might have been trying to steal transcript paper.

Could that have been the beginning of a trend? Over the holiday weekend, two students at another leading law school were arrested after an alleged break-in….

They’re accused of breaking and entering into… a conference room. Are young lawyers really this desperate to access confined spaces with fluorescent lighting? They’re supposed to pay you $160,000 a year to endure that.

Here’s the report, from AnnArbor.com:

Two University of Michigan Law School students were arrested early Friday morning after they were accused of breaking into a conference room at the Lawyers Club at 551 South State St., university police said.

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I recently had the pleasure of visiting and speaking at Michigan Law. As I entered the law school classroom building, I admired the Lawyers Club, a beautiful Gothic structure that serves as law student housing. It’s an elegant edifice (even if not worth breaking into).

The men, ages 28 and 23, were released after the break-in that was reported at about 1:50 a.m., police spokeswoman Diane Brown said.

Brown said someone called police after finding that the door to the conference room had been kicked in and the men were inside.

Quipped a tipster: “Kicking in the door to a conference room in the Lawyers’ Club at nearly 2 a.m.?! Must be the Michigan difference.”

It’s a bizarre set of circumstances. What could be going on here? On the AnnArbor.com comment thread, one reader wondered if Michigan Law’s much-mocked secret society, previously described to us as “a bastardized version of the old Barrister’s Society,” might be involved.

There were actually a number of wiseacres on the AnnArbor.com site. Some selected quips:

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“No, no, you wait until you pass the bar to steal from people. Then you just overbill. Amateurs.”

“Time for an agonizing career path reappraisal for these two young men. Will their future be on Wall Street, or Pennsylvania Ave.?”

“Sounds like they are well on their way to becoming insurance defense lawyers.”

And also some defenses of the suspects, like this one (you can argue over whether the legal analysis is correct in the comments to this post):

The term “burglary” denotes an intent to steal at the time of illegal entry into a structure. There is no allegation here that the suspects had any intent to steal or do anything illegal once entering. Given the facts alleged, the Prosecutor should likely bring a misdemeanor trespass or illegal entry charge. Does remind me of the Watergate Hotel caper in some respects.

This is another example of allegations of immature conduct by U-M law students. Almost as bad as the soliciting case brought against a female U-M law student a few years ago who was trying to defray tuition costs.

(I actually don’t remember that story. Remember, Reema Bajaj went to Northern Illinois for law school.)

UPDATE (2:50 PM): Thanks to the commenters for refreshing my recollection.

We reached out to the university about this news. “All I know at this point is that university police are investigating the incident,” a spokesperson told us.

If we hear more, we’ll provide you with an update. In the meantime, go Wolverines!

Two U-M law students arrested after burglary [AnnArbor.com]

Earlier: Quote of the Day: Will a T14 Law Degree Ward Off Unemployment?
UVA Law Student Arrested: Charged With Breaking and Entering
Michigan Law Secret Society Openly Mocked
University of Michigan Law Student Should Have Come to ATL First