Costs Only Increase Once You Start Practicing

In these trying times, I've considered admission to the bar in a contiguous state to make myself more marketable to prospective employers since my no-name J.D. is opening no doors by itself. It seems clear that no prospective employer from State A will take a chance on TTT student from State B without an active license to State A's bar. While BigLaw routinely employs attorneys from T1 without a license to a particular state bar where the office is located, smaller firms that are more likely to employ TTT grads won't take that chance unless you already have the license for their state.  

Obtaining another active bar license would, hypothetically, allow me greater opportunity as I would be able to apply to jobs in different states. However, looking at the requirements for different states leaves me even more frustrated:  most states charge higher fees for attorney applicants than they do law student applicants.

For example, one looking to be admitted in North Carolina as an already practicing attorney must pay $1,500 as compared to the $700 for a non-attorney. Is there any reason for the discrimination between a non-attorney and an attorney other than to reap the additional benefits and to keep foreigners (i.e., non-Carolinians) out? Does this survive a rational basis standard? If so, someone tell me how.

Since North Carolina doesn't offer an attorney's exam, I'd be taking the same test that an unlicensed law student would be taking. Moreover, I've already submitted to the National Conf. of Bar Examiners Character and Fitness check and can also submit a statement of good standing from my home state. It would appear at first blush that the NC Bar Examiners could look my credentials over more quickly than a law student since I've been through the process and am a practicing attorney in another state in good standing; so what's the extra money for?

With few job opportunities and large amounts of student debt, you'd think the bar examiners of these many states would try to help young attorneys in improving their employability. (I guess they are - at least for young attorneys in their respective states - by discouraging out-of-state attorney applicants.

Louisiana College - Pressler School of Law

Louisiana College is moving forward with plans to open Louisiana's Fifth (5th) law school. Louisiana's presently operating law schools are:

Tulane University - http://www.law.tulane.edu/

Louisiana State University - http://www.law.lsu.edu/

Loyola University - http://www.law.loyno.edu/

Southern University - http://www.sulc.edu/index_ie.htm

While tuition rates are not yet listed on the proposed school's website (http://law.lacollege.edu/), it will be interesting to see what type of cost this legal education will run. In reviewing the school's financial information I observed that tuition for an undergraduate for one year starting Fall 2011, assuming 15 hours per semester, would run approximately $13,380; not bad for a private school. Perhaps a new, cost-effective legal education is coming which will allow more options in considering the TTT and FTT schools charging in excess of $25,000 a year for tuition only. 

Believe me, knowing now that my J.D. would leave little chance of landing a job that could actually handle the $90,000+ debt load and leave room for a comfortable living, I would have considered a newer school with a cost like this one over the one I chose. 

I'll await the financial information to see if Louisiana College conforms to its reputation ("Louisiana College is known for providing an excellent education at a cost well below the national average.").

University of North Texas Law - Delayed Opening

Dallas' proposed newest law school pushed it's opening back to Fall 2013. See http://untsystem.unt.edu/lawschool-2/index.html

Budget woes in Texas are straining the finances available for this proposed publicly funded law school.

It doesn't appear that Texas' Tenth (10th) law school will be opening too soon.

For you lemmings out there, public schools actually have budget constraints and financial concerns to consider when it comes to financing a publicly funded school. On the other hand, private law schools which charge anywhere from $25,000 to $45,000 per student (just for tuition), can simply add another sheep or two to the flock to cover the budget. I was once told by a FTT (Fourth Tier Toilet) law student that the first year class at her FTT school had been expanded so much that law students didn't even have a desk to sit at in first year classes like contracts and civil procedure. That's right, law students were sitting in folding metal chairs like you'd see at a church revival for the price of $25,000+ dollars.

Best wishes UNT, if in fact you are intending to provide a cost-effective legal education to aspiring Texas lawyers of the future. 

Run For Congress

If your TTT J.D. isn't doing you much good in the legal profession, maybe you should consider a run for the United States Congress. Approval ratings are at an all time low for incumbents and you don't even need manners.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/a6CpvU-DzxE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Click play to see Alaska Representative Don Young's less than befitting behavior.

Apparently it is completely acceptable behavior for a United States Congressman to tell an individual that his or her views or testimony are "garbage." Even I learned phrases like "I respectfully disagree" or "while I appreciate your view" in TTT Law.

Not to repeat myself, but again, this guy is a United States Congressman.

Somebody tell him to act like it. Of course, don't expect that somebody to be his fellow congressmen, they're busy making stock trades.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57323527/congress-trading-stock-on-inside-information/

Opportunities Abound

That's right. Twenty (20) high paying attorney positions are available right now at Morrison Foerster. Check out http://www.mofo.com/

By the way, most, if not all, require graduation from a "top tier law school" or "excellent academic credentials." (That type of lingo is one in the same: TTT J.D.s need not apply).

It doesn't matter that your TTT J.D. cost as much as a 1st Tier J.D.

It doesn't matter that you made a fool of one of their feeder school's students at a moot court competition in law school.

In fact, the kid with a 1st Tier J.D., bad body odor and an inability to communicate in a normal setting, will actually receive consideration for one of the 20 positions. Your TTT resume, on the other hand, will quickly be thrown in the trashcan by a paralegal sorting through the same (chances are the paralegal doing the sorting is a TTT J.D. who couldn't find a practicing attorney position herself).

Don't worry; there are still plenty of TTT jobs out there. Check out www.shitlawjobs.com

Those That Have and Those That Have Not

It's that time of year again. I received my recent copy of TTT Law's Alumni Newsletter. A few things observed again this year for my TTT Law colleagues remain the same as in years past:

Scholarship Students/Students of Wealthy Parents are:  starting families and having children; starting their own law practices or moving up the ladder at mom or dad's law practice; taking vacations to exotic destinations; and doing other things for which the absence of student loan repayment makes possible.  

TTT Indebted Graduates are:  obviously absent from alumni notes section; not getting married and having children; and not reporting on the success of his or her career opportunities.

I'll look forward to next year's edition!
   

Just a Numbers Game

Back in college I came across a book concerning how to be successful with women. The book's central premise: treat approaching women like a numbers game. For every no, you'll eventually get a yes. Simple. Straightforward. Treat every encounter with a woman, whether at a grocery store, coffee shop or dinner party, as an opportunity for a yes.

Unfortunately said premise doesn't apply in approaching a job for a TTT J.D. (nor women if you are in fact an overly indebted TTT J.D.; telling a woman you are $90,000+ in debt and that 1/3 or more of your monthly salary is for student loan payments doesn't exactly leave a woman thinking she'd like to make a family with you).

Unless you actually know someone, chances are your TTT resume will always get a "no." I've been drafting cover letters, not bullshit standardized letters but letters catered to each prospective employer, for over 5 years. In response to possibly 300 or more, I've had four invitations to interview. Those invites came as a result of a family connection or knowing someone that knew someone.

The only numbers I'm seeing as a TTT J.D. are the number of minutes wasted drafting cover letters and the number of dollars spent on my TTT J.D. How's that for a numbers game.

Opportunities . . . Unless You're a TTT J.D.

Exciting Opportunities at Jones Day are Available, but not for you TTT J.D.:

Cleveland Office - "Candidate should have large law firm experience, be used to working in a team atmosphere and have excellent academic credentials."

Dallas Office - "Candidate should have large large law firm experience and excellent academic credentials."

Irvine Office - "Excellent academic credentials . . . are required."

San Diego Office - need "experience in a large or sophisticated mid-size law firm with excellent academic credentials."

See http://www.jonesday.com/careers

How does one acquire large law firm experience if large law firms don't hire TTT J.D.s?

I suspect excellent academic credentials doesn't include Top 15% TTT J.D.s.

However, if you're 1st Tier and lower 50%, you might get lucky.   

New Record of Rejection

It took less than three hours to get the following rejection to a resume I submitted for a regional office of a BigLaw firm:

"After careful review and determination ... We are unable to offer you further consideration."

I guess they can't charge $225 an hour for my TTT J.D. like they do the kid who went public ivy. Maybe they have a paralegal opening, I see they bill out $110 for their paralegals' time.

Living @ Home

I realized in speaking with another attorney at my firm that our two newest associates have several things in common:

Both did very well at their respective Third Tier Law Schools

Both went to private Third Tier Law Schools

Neither found work in the cities they had hoped to at larger firms

Both now live at home with their parents

Both are in their mid to late 20s/early 30s

After considering this I thought I'd pass on the question as to whether both were pleased with the choice in school and career.

FW: Saturation of Legal Market in Tennessee

Following my earlier post, I came across this piece concerning Belmont University School of Law (i.e., Tennessee's newest law school) and its new Dean - http://abovethelaw.com/2010/10/at-least-one-person-at-the-aba-is-aware-that-new-law-schools-make-no-sense/#more-38851

As noted in the piece, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which I referenced on growth in the legal sector, reports that:

"[T]the legal sector will grow faster than the average for all jobs, but it will add the fewest jobs among professional occupations. Lawyers will account for 98,500 new jobs, while paralegals and assistants will account for 74,100 jobs — a 28 percent growth rate — as they begin taking on more tasks once handled by lawyers."

In other words, the real growth in the legal sector will be in the paralegal and legal assistant role. Accordingly, I fear a cruel dose of realty will be waiting many of these newly minted attorneys when they exit law school some $90,000+ in non-dischargeable student loan debt. While the salary for a paralegal is generous, it certainly doesn't allow much room for extras when you account for the monthly student loan payments.

What continues to drive the decision to open so many new law schools? Belmont's new Dean, in fact, appears to have made a bit of a career of opening new law schools having helped with Appalachian School of Law, Elon College of Law, and now taking the reigns at Belmont College of Law.

According to Nando over at Third Tier Reality, one can be compensated pretty nicely for charging these soon to be lawyers (err, Paralegals) in excess of $90,000 in non-dischargeable student loan debt for a J.D. See e.g.;   http://thirdtierreality.blogspot.com/2011/08/fourth-tier-pile-of-fresh-waste-elon.html

Based on a review of 2009 returns for Elon, Nando noted that:  "Jeffrey Kinsler made $221,800 in TOTAL COMPENSATION, [that year]."  

Saturation of Legal Market in Tennessee

Within the past two (2) years the State of Tennessee added two new law schools, putting the State's number of law schools at six (6). Adding in Appalachian Law, which adds a number of Tennessee attorneys every year in the Tri-Cities Region, that makes (3) new schools in the last ten years.

I wonder if the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' estimated 13% growth in opportunities for lawyers between 2008 and 2018 will suffice for the number of newly minted attorneys being created by all these schools.  

University of Tennessee - http://www.law.utk.edu/

University of Memphis - http://www.memphis.edu/law/index.php

Vanderbilt University -  http://law.vanderbilt.edu/index.aspx

Nashville School of Law - http://nashvilleschooloflaw.net/

Belmont University School of Law - http://www.belmont.edu/law/

Lincoln Memorial School of Law - 80 http://www.lmunet.edu/law/

Appalachian School of Law - 140 - http://www.asl.edu/

Go In-House; Get Real

Looking to go in-house; good luck!  A recent review of thirty-five (35) available positions on goinhouse.com (http://www.goinhouse.com/) reveals what it takes to do so at a number of corporations, with requirements like:

"Law degree from a highly regarded school" ~ salesforce.com

"JD from top tier accredited law school" ~ Vail Resorts

"At least 4 years in a large law firm or as in-house counsel" ~ Yum Brands

"Strong academic credentials from a highly regarded law school " ~ Sambreel Services, LLC

"JD from a top law school" ~ TRE

"JD from a top law school" ~ VISA

Conclusion:  getting your foot in the door at some corporations is impossible if you can't get past the third tier law degree on your resume.

Joining the Field!

After viewing comparable websites for the past year and a half, I decided to join the field. The posts made hereafter are not indicative of animosity or ill-will toward my law school. I have none; my legal education, in my view, is of no compare. Unfortunately, others in the legal profession do not hold my view.