OXFORD-Miss.
Eliminating the third year of law school could give graduates a better chance at
finding a jobs.
A study conducted by Duke University law professor, Paul Carrington, reveals
that shortening the path to law school could decrease the number of graduates
struggling to find jobs as well as lowering the cost of legal services.
According to a recent article in the ABA Journal, the main burden for new lawyers
is high law school debt. This debt is preventing new lawyers in make a living, providing
affordable legal services, to work in public interest positions, and to work in small law
firms.
The question is whether or not changes can be made to lower tuition, and
whether this will increase graduates job opportunities.
Jim Chen, a professor and former dean at the University of Louisville’s Brandeis
School of Law, said that law graduates need an annual salary equivalent to two thirds of
their law school debt; and by eliminating the third year of school, this can be achieved.
“I definitely think that the debt problem could be solved by reducing the program
to two years,” attorney Rhea Tannehill said. “That way, graduates could actually make
a living instead of drowning in debt.”
Legal Studies major, Madison Miller, said, “[By eliminating the third year of
school] graduates would be able to get into the work force sooner and gain experience
faster without having to worry about paying off student loans.”
The New York Times published an article stating that the number of law school
applicants was down 13.7 percent in 2012 after a 10 percent drop in 2011.
The idea of bringing in less-qualified staff to ensure a less expensive school may
give graduates a degree, but may not better qualify them for jobs. Private schools, such
as Duke University, has a tuition that can exceed over $50,000 a year. However, their
employment rate was 95 percent last year with the average starting salary of $160,000.
“Obviously, elite schools have high tuition prices, which better the chances of
students getting higher quality jobs,” said criminal justice major, Faulkner Emerson. “But
the economy makes it harder to receive that kind of education these days.”
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