Fewer LSAT test takers and more class action lawsuits

Happy Easter and Happy Passover everyone!



I recently came across a great new article in the New York Times,  A Sharp Drop in LSAT test takers

The article goes on to say that the number of students taking the LSAT has dropped from 171,000 at the peak in 2009 to around 129,000 this year. This is great news! It seems as if the word is getting out from our blogs and the lawsuits that legal education is no longer a sure bet.

The article goes on to say,

"Many lawyers and law professors have argued in recent years that the legal market will either stagnate or shrink as technology allows more low-end legal work to be handled overseas, and as corporations demand more cost-efficient fee arrangements from their firms." and goes on to add that "The idea that law school is an easy ticket to financial security is finally breaking down.”       

I really hope this opens peoples eyes to what is happening to all the unemployed legal professionals. Many law schools have been sued in class action lawsuits and most legal professionals are working in non legal careers.

I also have some sad news to share with all of you: My company has recently laid off quite a bit of people. They are going through some restructuring and had to let go of a few managers and even attorneys who were doing contracts work. Many of my colleagues talk about how the economy is getting better, and there are some more opportunities out there. However, many of the attorneys and paralegals have a sense of sadness.

Many of us have heard of the class action lawsuits and how applications are dropping, but many of the laid off workers I have talked to try to remain optimistic. Many of them talk about how they will try to get jobs with a firm, get a job in government or work in public service. However, watching the current judgement in New York as 9 graduates lose case against New York Law School has been a very sad thing to see.

Many of us entered the legal profession with a great admiration of the judicial system and the courts. Most of us entered the legal field in order to have a living wage and work for change and justice. To watch one of the courts which we all admired so greatly be so vehemently opposed to the idea that we were "scammed" and "misled" is both heartbreaking and disillusioning. We all try to remain optimistic with all the other lawsuits. However, regardless of all the class action lawsuits, there is little hope that any of us will ever find employment or work  in the legal profession. Many of my colleagues know this, but no one has the heart to even utter these words.

I don't know what the future will bring, but I have come to realize that I must constantly reinvent myself to survive in these troubled times. All I can do is hope and pray that things work out for me, my friends and all of you struggling legal professionals.

-The Poor Paralegal