For the prospective law student
This is a sample of informational resources for anyone thinking about law school in the near future should take time to read. While it is never my goal to talk anyone out of going to law school per se, I do believe I have a duty to pass on as much information and experience that I have as a recently graduated JD who did it at night while working full time job during the day. I came across bits and pieces of this information while I was in school, but honestly I was so stressed out and tunnel visioned to really appreciate it for what it was. Since I graduated in 2009 I’ve had more of an opportunity to research more into this area, and can vouch for much of this information to be accurate from a mixture of my own personal experience and conversations with recent law school graduates, and practicing attorneys.
With the sheer volume of information out there and varied opinions about the current status of the legal profession, I think the following blog is a good place to start, a well written, relatively balanced take from a current practicing attorney with 20+ years practicing experience:
Legal Dollar Blog – for prospective law students Part I:
http://thelegaldollar.blogspot.com/2010/01/beginning-prospective-law-students-part.html
Part II here:
http://thelegaldollar.blogspot.com/2010/01/beginning-prospective-law-students-part_15.html
He also has a very good, balanced 4-part post on starting salaries for attorneys
http://thelegaldollar.blogspot.com/2009/10/how-much-will-you-make-as-lawyer-part-1.html
Good Blog/msg boards that have a lot of new content about the current state of the legal market, updated daily:
Above the law – http://abovethelaw.com/
Law Shucks – http://lawshucks.com/
JD Underground – http://www.qfora.com/jdu/
Mainstream newspaper coverage on the recent downturn over the last few years.
LA Times – No more room at the bench
Wall Street Journal Law Blog – Christmas carol by Loyola 2L
Minnesota post – Law school bubble about to burst
Law.com – What to say when friends ask about law school
Informative blogs run by recently graduated and licensed JDs that are struggling to find that first legal job.
Esquire Never – http://esqnever.blogspot.com/
JD Underdog – http://jdunderdog.blogspot.com/
Third Tier Reality – http://thirdtierreality.blogspot.com/