Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ? Forum
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Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
I mean specifically in terms of regional mobility. If you get a law degree from a "regional" school you can pretty much only get a job within that region. But if you get an engineering, accounting,medical,etc degree from that same school you could probably get a job outside of the region. Why is law different than most other fields in that regard ? If I graduate from the University of Minnesota why can't I work in LA or Austin ? Are USC and UT grads learning anything different than I am ? I've always been curious about this issue.
- Scotusnerd
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Because there are quite a few jobs in the useful fields of engineering, accounting and medical and a job apocalypse ongoing in law.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Compared to other professional degrees, it's much harder for lawyers to get jobs after law school because the concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney. Therefore, firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
If you consider other professional programs (ex. Medicine, dentistry, etc), training is incorporated into the education. Two out of four years of the program are spent doing clinical rotations where you are actually tested and graded on your practical skills. This is why students in healthcare fields can obtain jobs easily after school without substantial work experience. With MBA programs, graduates have prior work experience, hence contacts to ease the employment process.
The problem has to do with the prerequisites and the training for law school. While most post-undergraduate professional degree programs have substantial prerequisites which restrict applicants from entering the field, law school has virtually no prerequisites. This means that more people get the chance to apply, which makes the overall value of the degree less meaningful, and the location of attendance and class rank more important for recruiting and employment.
If you consider other professional programs (ex. Medicine, dentistry, etc), training is incorporated into the education. Two out of four years of the program are spent doing clinical rotations where you are actually tested and graded on your practical skills. This is why students in healthcare fields can obtain jobs easily after school without substantial work experience. With MBA programs, graduates have prior work experience, hence contacts to ease the employment process.
The problem has to do with the prerequisites and the training for law school. While most post-undergraduate professional degree programs have substantial prerequisites which restrict applicants from entering the field, law school has virtually no prerequisites. This means that more people get the chance to apply, which makes the overall value of the degree less meaningful, and the location of attendance and class rank more important for recruiting and employment.
- Icculus
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Spoken like a true 0L. Law school does not teach you state law, and this has nothing to do with why a law degree isn't as portable as other degrees.Scotusnerd wrote:Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
First
This means firms invest a ton of money into new associates when training them, and firms are weary about hiring someone from outside the region for fear they will up and leave and it will be a wasted investment.collegebum1989 wrote:concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney.
Second:
Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.collegebum1989 wrote:firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
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- thesealocust
- Posts: 8525
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Ding ding ding, we have a winner.Icculus wrote:Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.
This comment is bad and you should feel bad.Scotusnerd wrote:While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
- SuperCerealBrah
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Icculus wrote:Spoken like a true 0L. Law school does not teach you state law, and this has nothing to do with why a law degree isn't as portable as other degrees.Scotusnerd wrote:Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
First
This means firms invest a ton of money into new associates when training them, and firms are weary about hiring someone from outside the region for fear they will up and leave and it will be a wasted investment.collegebum1989 wrote:concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney.
Second:
Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.collegebum1989 wrote:firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
Oh rly? Mine does.
- Icculus
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- Joined: Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:02 am
Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Really? I think the only class we touched on state law was LRW, and that was just for one memo about a tort. Other than that we haven't done any state specific law.SuperCerealBrah wrote:Icculus wrote:Spoken like a true 0L. Law school does not teach you state law, and this has nothing to do with why a law degree isn't as portable as other degrees.Scotusnerd wrote:Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
First
This means firms invest a ton of money into new associates when training them, and firms are weary about hiring someone from outside the region for fear they will up and leave and it will be a wasted investment.collegebum1989 wrote:concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney.
Second:
Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.collegebum1989 wrote:firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
Oh rly? Mine does.
- TTTehehe
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Tulane? Just curious.SuperCerealBrah wrote:Icculus wrote:Spoken like a true 0L. Law school does not teach you state law, and this has nothing to do with why a law degree isn't as portable as other degrees.Scotusnerd wrote:Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
First
This means firms invest a ton of money into new associates when training them, and firms are weary about hiring someone from outside the region for fear they will up and leave and it will be a wasted investment.collegebum1989 wrote:concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney.
Second:
Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.collegebum1989 wrote:firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
Oh rly? Mine does.
- SuperCerealBrah
- Posts: 323
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
TTTehehe wrote:Tulane? Just curious.SuperCerealBrah wrote:Icculus wrote:Spoken like a true 0L. Law school does not teach you state law, and this has nothing to do with why a law degree isn't as portable as other degrees.Scotusnerd wrote:Because making money and federal taxes don't change from state to state. Because the human body remains pretty much the same. Because building a building takes pretty much the same calculations no matter where you are.
While the method for learning the law is the same, the content is very different. The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
First
This means firms invest a ton of money into new associates when training them, and firms are weary about hiring someone from outside the region for fear they will up and leave and it will be a wasted investment.collegebum1989 wrote:concept of "law" is so broad, that legal education is focused on teaching the principles of the law as opposed to teaching the practice of being an attorney.
Second:
Most firms hire from schools they know, this means outside the T14 you are best suited going to a law school in the area you want to practice in.collegebum1989 wrote:firms usually recruit based on schools, rankings and other factors.
Oh rly? Mine does.
Yea, I won't disclose anything specifically. It just feels weird to do so on this site. However, I will say the state I am in is unique in this probably. That should tell you right there.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
And are you enjoying learning about Louisiana's f#@*ed-up attempt to create French-American civil law?SuperCerealBrah wrote:Yea, I won't disclose anything specifically. It just feels weird to do so on this site. However, I will say the state I am in is unique in this probably. That should tell you right there.
- Scotusnerd
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Did I say that the law school taught you state law? I did not. I just said that the law was different from state to state, and you can take any bar exam.
If y'all wanna be internet badasses, feel free. But ya dun goofed on the reading comprehension part of things.
If y'all wanna be internet badasses, feel free. But ya dun goofed on the reading comprehension part of things.
- Aberzombie1892
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
I didn't understand his comment. Was he saying yes he went to Tulane or yeah he doesn't feel comfortable disclosing? Either way, Tulane doesn't make you learn state law. LSU and Southern do make you learn it, however.nigelfrost wrote:And are you enjoying learning about Louisiana's f#@*ed-up attempt to create French-American civil law?SuperCerealBrah wrote:Yea, I won't disclose anything specifically. It just feels weird to do so on this site. However, I will say the state I am in is unique in this probably. That should tell you right there.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
This a joke. I've had many lawyers tell me that after 8-10 years of experience your schools prestige and your class rank mean practically nothing. Regardless of whether your school is considered "regional" or not.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
FacepalmTushbush wrote:This a joke. I've had many lawyers tell me that after 8-10 years of experience your schools prestige and your class rank mean practically nothing. Regardless of whether your school is considered "regional" or not.
- SuperCerealBrah
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Tushbush wrote:This a joke. I've had many lawyers tell me that after 8-10 years of experience your schools prestige and your class rank mean practically nothing. Regardless of whether your school is considered "regional" or not.
Yes, but you need the bolded. And thats hard to get when entry level hiring is largely based on class rank/school prestige.
- SuperCerealBrah
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Aberzombie1892 wrote:I didn't understand his comment. Was he saying yes he went to Tulane or yeah he doesn't feel comfortable disclosing? Either way, Tulane doesn't make you learn state law. LSU and Southern do make you learn it, however.nigelfrost wrote:And are you enjoying learning about Louisiana's f#@*ed-up attempt to create French-American civil law?SuperCerealBrah wrote:Yea, I won't disclose anything specifically. It just feels weird to do so on this site. However, I will say the state I am in is unique in this probably. That should tell you right there.
I am in Louisiana and it is not southern. That leaves LSU, Tulane, and Loyola. Ill leave it at that. I like to keep it at least somewhat general even though I am probably being overly paranoid lol
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- JamMasterJ
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Louisiana doesn't count
- Icculus
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Okay, then how does this:Scotusnerd wrote:Did I say that the law school taught you state law? I did not. I just said that the law was different from state to state, and you can take any bar exam.
answer the OP's original question? It doesn't even address why law schools are regional unless the reader makes the assumption you are referring to what is taught in law school. So either you originally were saying that law schools teach state law and realized you were incorrect and are now backtracking, or you didn't understand the OP's question and some how thought state law and the bar exam were relevant.Scotusnerd wrote:The laws of Minnesota and California aren't anywhere close, and you can get into serious trouble if you confuse one for the other (malpractice suit, anyone?)
So if I "goofed on the RC" explain to me how any of what you said is relevant?
- Scotusnerd
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
I'm not going to engage in a pissing contest. There's your answer if you need it.Also, you can absolutely work in another place from where you went to school, if you pass that state's bar. You will have to work at getting a job since you have zero contacts, but people do it, successfully.
Law is a lot about who you know, not just what you know.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Has little to do with the content you are taught and everything to do with how the legal market operates. Employers hire people from schools they are familiar with, people who they have access to for OCI's, people who have developed a professional network within their region due to the school they went to. Ofcourse you 'can' practice anywhere from any school, it's just the level of difficulty getting a job outside of your region (For the vast majority of schools) is difficult because you lack the infrastructure and normal job-seeking routes that other grads will have worked on for the past 3 years.
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Re: Why are law degrees different than most other degrees ?
Have fun at Cooley.Tushbush wrote:This a joke. I've had many lawyers tell me that after 8-10 years of experience your schools prestige and your class rank mean practically nothing. Regardless of whether your school is considered "regional" or not.
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