Is CLS (and the like) a good investment? Forum

[isCLSagoodinvestment]

I'm leaving for Columbia in a few weeks, but rather than feeling excited, I'm honestly just terrified because of the job market.

Many have discussed how well Columbia's "held up" during the recession, placing 55% of its 3L's into NLJ250 positions according to the latest National Law Journal list of "go-to schools." But few have discussed what happens to the other 45%. Even if one allows 10% for clerkships, 5% for public interest and 5% for academia, that still leaves fully 25% of the class unaccounted for.

So, what happens to that 25%? I'm trying to mentally prepare myself for law school, but this has become literally all that I can think about. Sometimes I feel like I'm digging myself a $150,000 hole that I'll never climb out of. I don't mean to sound morbid or anything - I think I'll place well enough in my class that it won't be an issue - but so does every other student at Columbia, and inevitably at least one in four of them don't.

I've even occasionally thought that it might make more sense to just find a job, or pursue a post-bac and go to medical school. (Because honestly, how many starving physicians do you know?) These options seem a little on the extreme side, and I do want to go to law school - at my dream school, no less - but I need to know that I'm making a wise investment.

So, does anyone know one of the "unaccounted for" 25%, 35%, even 45% at schools like Columbia, NYU, and Chicago? What happens to them?

(Note I'm not posting this in "Choosing a Law School" because I want the opinion of current students, and because I already know what school I'm attending.)

[chris0805]

I wish I had some good hard statistics for you, but I don't so take anything I say with a grain of salt. It was a GREAT investment for me (provided I don't fail the bar next week ), and, at least in the class of 2010, it seems that the amount of "lost" students is closer to 10 %. It's been an especially tough year in public interest especially but MOST firm kids seemed to do alright. There are some people still looking, but I'm pretty confident they'll find a decent job.

Is it a good bet? Depends on how risk averse you are. Is it a good investment? I'm not sure. For the vast majority of us I would say yes, but it's really tough for those few who are still looking for a job right now (many through no fault of their own other than picking the wrong firm).

P.S. I think class of 2012 will be in a similar position as 2010 and 2013 might be marginally better, but 2011 is DEFINITELY in the hardest spot so be aware that this year's 3Ls might be in an unusually tough bind.