LegalAdviceZone.com

Why are lawyers out of work when legal services cost so much?

I hear many young lawyers complaining that it is impossible to find work and that many of them feel deceived by their law schools that gave them the impression that they will make a lot of money upon graduation. At the same time I hear a lot of people complaining that legal services cost so much and that they can't afford them. Why then can't these new complaining lawyers get work simply by charging less? Is it just because they suck at marketing themselves?

Public Comments

1. The more the Legal profession restrict the number of new entrants to their numbers, the more they can claim for their slice of the action
2. It is because there are so many lawyers these days, that it is becoming a competitive market where the clients only go for the experiences ones, as opposed to the newbies.
3. A few things are going on. The first is that fewer people are hiring lawyers, because business for potential clients is bad. The second is that law schools are in fact graduating *way* too many law students, and not being honest with them about their employment prospects. They do this because law schools are cash cows for universities. They get to charge 100K for 3 years of education, and have very few expenses. 70 students to a class, no equipment required...you get the idea. It's like 90% profit. I know people gripe about the cost of legal services, but you have to look at it from a lawyer's perspective. The average lawyer graduates from law school with something like 110K in debt. They also spend at least 7 years in school, so they lose 7 years worth of earnings. My student loan payments are 1500 per month. You don't pay those bills working for 20 bucks an hour. Also, contrary to popular belief, lawyers aren't all wealthy. I live in a crappy 1 bedroom apartment and live from paycheck to paycheck, and so do the vast majority of my former classmates.
4. here is the answer the economy is bad, and everyone wants money. up until recently, out of law school (and after passing the bar) an attorney could get an average starting salary around $100,000 (ball park). This is a lot of money considering there is only three years of school required for the job. Yes, it is difficult school, but any person with above average intelligence can get through it with working hard. Doctors, after college, can not practice for 6-10 years because of all the education, internships, and residencies that they have to go through to make a similar (obviously higher) salary. students are figuring that being an attorney is relatively easy money compared to jobs in the same salary range, and now there is an abundance of people with law degrees. attorney fees are high, and it is possible that you may see a reduction in them in the near future. however, this is unlikely to affect the job market
5. Most lawyers do not want to open their own practice because it costs a great deal to pay rent and secretaries and such. They are complaining about the lack of a job paying wages. In my home state, there are too many law schools and people do not wish to leave, so the competition is fierce. Lawyers there are opening their own shops, charging peanuts, and living like grad students.
6. Newly minted layers have no business working for themselves. They need a job with a firm because law school doesn't prepare you for practicing law. Law firms aren't hiring. They're downsizing. Large firms are outsourcing work to India as are major US corporation. They were misled. They also went into law with their eyes wide shut. There's a glut of lawyers in this country and there has been for decades. Anyone who goes into law school thinking it's the path to a lucretive career hasn't been paying attention.