Take a look at this Craigslist ad (credit to JD Underground).
To summarize, a Northern Virginia firm (right outside of DC) wants to hire an entry level, licensed attorney with "excellent academic credentials". Starting salary: $35k.
I assume by excellent academic credentials they mean graduating from one of the VA or DC tier one schools in the top quarter (or maybe the top third) of the class.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, here is your reward: for studying hard enough in college and for the LSAT to get into one of these top 50 schools, working yourself silly to be in the top of your class, and paying the big bucks for the prestige, you get $35k at a small firm doing traffic and PI work. The DC area is also one of the most expensive areas in the country. Good luck getting by on $35k with sky high rental prices and hefty student loan payments.
To underscore just how lousy of a deal this is: I made the exact same salary coming out of college. I also worked for a NOT FOR PROFIT (which today would make me eligible for the 10 year loan forgiveness unlike this joke of a job). Furthermore, I didn't have the stress of being an attorney. In fact, on most days, the most difficult task I had was determining which take out restaurant I was going to go to for lunch.
Game over, man. Game over.
Monday, November 30, 2009
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While Americans are working more hours for stagnant or decreasing wages, there are tons of jobs that pay $35K-$45K that do not require 1/10 of the stress that a lawyer carries around.
ReplyDeleteAnd isn't this also an indictment of the idiots on JDU (and other forums) who say "Well, if you work real hard, put forth the effort, and network, things WILL work out in the end"?
Yeah, look how well you can do - YOU CAN MAKE $35K IN ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE AREAS IN THE U.S. AND IN ONE OF THE MOST STRESS-FILLED INDUSTRIES ON EARTH!!!
Those who say "keep plugging away" are either (a) delusional; (b) do not know what they are talking about; (c) suffer from willful ignorance (or blatant stupidity); (d) too emotionally married to the idea that they made a wise choice, and they cannot see the reality of the situation; (e) students still in law school who need something to hold onto; (f) trolls; or (g) full of crap and are deceiving others about the nature of the industry.
Law is a disgraceful "profession."
Exactly! Before law school, I made more than that answering phones and doing light filing at an accounting firm. NO stress, no overtime, benefits, great working conditions... $35K is ridiculous for any kind of attorney job.
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