With the reports of associates leaving law firms in increasing numbers I am beginning to question whether law school is relevant. These lawyers leave for diverse reasons but so many of them seem to leave early in their careers because they are disillusioned with the practice of law. One wonders if they had gotten an opportunity to taste law practice whether they would have willingly incurred so much debt to get a law degree only to pay off their arrears and leave three or four years later.
I would love to know for example whether any study has been done to determine whether there exists a higher rate of retention among paralegals who transition to lawyer. Is there any correlation between those who have been exposed to the real law practice experience prior to becoming a lawyer and their endurance in the legal profession?
Law School Programs
Law schools tend to focus on the substantive or academic education rather than the practical. When I went to law school they deigned to conduct a course called Office Management. I gained nothing from it except that it was supposedly to familiarize the student with the running of a law office and it failed miserably. It gave us very little information on the realities of law firm life and how to make real choices in our law career. Issues such as how to job hunt, how to identify and show off our legal talents, how and why to choose specialties, how to avoid being pigeonholed or even how to say no to Big Law were not addressed. In the Harvard Law School catalog of courses they offer courses relating to the Legal Profession and the Future of the Big Law Firm but I question whether these courses give students the career guidance they will need especially in the early days of their practice. Law schools need to examine their clinical and academic programs and direct their attention to preparing the young lawyer for the law practice of today, one which is competitive, lightening fast and a high pressure cauldron.
Apprentice Lawyer
Years ago in the US, Britain and the British Commonwealth countries it was quite common for lawyers to qualify without attending law school. They learned their craft by working alongside other lawyers. Such was the case of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln according to the NY times. This trend still continues in some US states like California and Washington and in others like New York, Maine and Wyoming they allow a combination of the apprenticeship and law school experience.
Although some argue against this on the basis that the Law Office study students have a lower bar exam pass rate one wonders if those who pursue this route with its sustained mentoring and real world experience are likely to be those who truly want to become lawyers and will enjoy success and enchantment at the bar.
