Student Debt
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Law Schools, Money, Quote of the Day, Student Loans
Quote of the Day: The Island of Misfit Lawyers?
Make a law that for every student graduating from law school, he replaces an existing lawyer. That existing lawyer is then sent to an island to make dog bonnets and leg warmers. In a way, it’s a lottery designed to dissuade people from wanting to be lawyers, and increase the quality of our nation’s dog […] -
Education / Schools, Law Schools, Student Loans
A Picture of How the Student Loan Industry Took Advantage of You
Today, we have a great infographic that explains the student loan "racket." Government secured loans, collection agency premiums, non-dischargable debts through bankruptcy -- this graphic has everything. Let's check out the graphic.... - Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Law Schools, Legal Ethics, State Judges, Student Loans
New York Post Tells Law Grads to Go Away
A lovely editorial in the New York Post showed a total lack of understanding about the problems lawyers and recent law grads are facing. You should see it, because sometimes it's easy for lawyers to forget just how much the outside world hates them. Maybe if more prospective law students knew how much everybody else dislikes them, there would actually be fewer unemployed lawyers walking around in need of help....
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Barack Obama, Money, Student Loans
Obama Authorizes More Debt Collection Calls in Futile Attempt to Collect Blood From Rocks
If you don't have a job, paying off your student loans is the last thing on your list. For some reason, Obama doesn't understand that. He seems to think that if you pester people more, they'll pay off their loans. Thanks to this flawed logic, expect debt collection calls to be coming to a cell phone near you.... -
American Bar Association / ABA, Federal Government, Law Schools, Money, Politics, Student Loans
Two Petitions of Possible Interest
Two petitions of possible interest showed up in our inbox today: 1. In favor of student loan forgiveness: This petition, reminiscent of Elie Mystal’s call for a student loan bailout, “strongly encourage[s] Congress and the President to support H. Res. 365, introduced by Rep. Hansen Clarke (D-MI), seeking student loan forgiveness as a means of […] -
Education / Schools, Interview Stories, Job Searches, Law Schools, Money, Student Loans, Summer Associates
An Update on the 1L Who Considered Dropping Out (But Didn't)
Not all of our coverage of law schools is depressing; we bring you happy stories as well. Let's continue the good cheer. Back in the spring, we wrote about a law student who was thinking of dropping out of school. He sought our advice -- and, surprisingly enough, Elie Mystal advised this fellow to stay in school (even though Elie is generally not a fan of legal education). Some commenters disagreed with Elie (shocker), and urged the kid to drop out. But now we bring you an update suggesting that perhaps Elie's advice was sound.... -
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Job Searches, Law Schools, Paralegals, Reader Polls, Student Loans
Should This Young Woman Go to Law School?
A bright, 23-year-old woman is thinking of going to law school. Should she do it? Let's learn about the particulars of her case.... -
American Bar Association / ABA, Law Schools, Money, Student Loans, Unemployment
In This Economy, What's the New Meaning of JD?
Gone are the days when earning a JD meant having automatic employment prospects. Gone are the days when having student loans wasn't completely debilitating. These days, the JD has taken on a new meaning. It doesn't just mean Juris Doctor anymore. These two are a little more fitting: Job Dilemma and Jumbo Dumbass. The Connecticut Law Tribune has come out with an informative piece just in time for new 1Ls to realize that they may have embarked upon a six-figure mistake.... - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Bar Exams, Job Searches, Law Schools, Rankings, Student Loans
The 'Best Value' Law Schools of 2011
The National Jurist has released the fifth annual list of the 60 Best Value law schools. But this year, the National Jurist made some adjustments to its rankings methodology to account for "fairness." Everyone gets a trophy in this year's Best Value rankings. You may be surprised at some of the law schools that made this year's Best Value honor roll. Check and see if your school made the list.... -
Education / Schools, Money, Student Loans
The Student Loan Bubble: Only Stupid People Will Be Surprised When It Bursts
Today we have more evidence that the student loan market is headed for disaster. The tuition is too damn high, and there aren't enough high paying jobs available for all of the young people with enormous debt. For many recent college graduates, default is inevitable. The numbers are starting to catch up with reality.... -
Barack Obama, Education / Schools, Money, Politics, Student Loans
Debt Ceiling Deal Includes Last-Second Screwing Of Graduate Students
There was one cut in the debt ceiling deal that really illustrates how little the president cares for his young, college-educated constituents. To save about $26.3 billion dollars, the debt ceiling deal eliminates the graduate student loan subsidy. Education certainly seems like a surefire way to kill one's economic future.... -
American Bar Association / ABA, Job Searches, Law Professors, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, New York Times, Student Loans
The Broken Law School Model: What Is To Be Done?
Does legal education need to be reformed? If so, how? The New York Times solicited views from a panel of experts (including Above the Law's own David Lat). -
California, Job Searches, Law Schools, Student Loans
Thomas Jefferson Law: Is The Answer Worse Than The Allegations?
In defending itself against a lawsuit brought by a disgruntled graduate, Thomas Jefferson School of Law makes some arguably embarrassing admissions -- and reveals information that perhaps prospective TJSL students might want to know.
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The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms.
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Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
How to best leverage generative AI as an early adopter with ethical use.
Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get…
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Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm.
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so…
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Law School Deans, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, New York Times, Student Loans
Law Schools Head To The Bunker To Avoid New York Times Fallout
In the wake of the latest New York Times exposé on law schools, deans and administrators are spinning, spinning, spinning. -
Biglaw, Blog Wars, Blogging, Fashion, Fashion Is Fun, Non-Sequiturs, Student Loans, Ted Frank
Non-Sequiturs: 06.21.11
* Trademarks, and textiles, and taboos, oh my! Take a look into the fabulous world of fashion law with Charles Colman of Law of Fashion. [Professionelle] * When you make stock market bets on SCOTUS outcomes, you better have a lot of money to throw around. Luckily, Ted Frank has plenty. [Point of Law] * […] -
Education / Schools, Glenn Reynolds, Job Searches, Law Schools, Student Loans
A Visual Representation of the Law School Bubble
Here at Above the Law, editor Elie Mystal likes to tell readers why they shouldn't go to law school. But why tell them, when we can just show them.... -
California, Job Searches, Law Schools, Litigators, Student Loans
Could Thomas Jefferson School Of Law Actually Lose?
For the most part, I’ve just been happy that the lawsuit against Thomas Jefferson School of Law, over the school’s allegedly misleading employment statistics, exists. It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about raising awareness of the disingenuous way law schools go about filling up their classes. Of course, anytime somebody says “it’s not about […] -
Law Schools, Money, Student Loans
Student Debt: The Bad Thing I Forgot To Mention
On Thursday night, I tried to explain the ups and downs of living your life under constant threat from debt collectors. Based on the reaction to the post, I have to say that the reading comprehension of my post was poor, even by “internet commenter” standards. Even Megan McArdle in The Atlantic missed some of […] -
Law Schools, Money, Student Loans
Student Loan Debt: What's the Worst That Could Happen?
As I’ve mentioned before, I graduated from law school over $150,000 in debt. As many of you know, I haven’t exactly paid all of that money back. Not making payments that first year was all my fault. I wanted to get married, didn’t have a credit card, and was using money that should have been […] -
Job Searches, Law Schools, Outsourcing, Student Loans
Outsourcing: The Rising Tide That Lifts All Boats?
Okay, I’m using the term “lifts” very loosely. We all know that outsourcing is taking work that used to be done by very expensive associates based in America and giving to inexpensive workers based in India. The law firm saves money, the client saves money, and the only people who are harmed are recent graduates […]