NY Times: Too Many Law Students, Too Few Legal Jobs?

Following up on last week's post, NY Times Op-Ed: Too Many Law Students, Too Few Legal Jobs:  New York Times letters to the editor:

Jeremy Paul (Dean, Northeastern):

Steven J. Harper unfairly assesses the number of American law students based on employment statistics rather than on the more salient fact that so many Americans cannot afford legal services. No one would say we had an oversupply of medical students if millions of Americans resorted to self-medication and treatment because they could not pay for a doctor. More of our citizens are representing themselves in court on important matters, like divorce, than at any time in recent memory.

Law schools throughout the country are responding with incubator programs aimed at helping law graduates open small law practices to serve clients of modest means. And studies show that a law degree remains a sound investment even if graduates take more time to find a first job or if that first job does not require passing the bar.

Perhaps instead of painting with a broad accusatory brush, Mr. Harper should offer his own solutions for expanding legal services to all. That’s the valuable mission of the many law schools he castigates so cavalierly.

Milan Markovic (Professor, Texas A&M Law School):

The ABA’s approach of disseminating information about employment outcomes and requiring certain bar passage rates is likely to be a far more effective constraint on law school enrollment than student loan reform.

Jeffrey L. Volpintesta (Law Student):

The future outlook of even a top-50 law school graduate may not be as rosy as it was two decades ago, but it is certainly not as bleak as portrayed in this article. For graduates of institutions of lesser repute, however, this article speaks the truth. That distinction should not be omitted.