Is Law School the new "College?" Forum

[waitlisted1]

I'm debating whether to go to law school this fall.

I'm sick of the direction most of these discussions go in terms of money/jobs, etc. so PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING.

LAWYERS WONT MAKE MUCH MONEY: If you are going to law school simply for the exclusive title of "Esq.", which allows you to charge $250 per hour in your job, you're an idiot. I actually like the law, I actually enjoy helping people figure stuff out with the law. I also think it's a hard task to do correctly, and requires concentration and determination which most people just don't have when it comes to research/arguments...thus the compensation. That said, I think that the high pay we are used to seeing for stereotypical lawyers is a bit artificial since there are barriers to becoming a lawyer that many capable people just never had the opportunities to overcome. Recently, this advantage is unravelling because there is an abundance of lawyers and bad economy. I see this as a trend that will continue (as more law schools/lawyers develop); that is, the majority of the legal profession is not going to get paid well. Forget all this T1-T3 talk. Also, many of those high-paying jobs you get suck in terms quality of life (in other words, you get paid well, but you work 60+ hours).

So, enough about strictly the economy. If I wanted a stable job that paid well already, I'd be a cop/firefighter/government employee who work for twenty years and then receive a nice, government-backed pension. (I'm not degrading their work here, but just saying MANY are in a decent economic situation in those terms).

HERE'S MY QUESTION:

Is it a valid reason to go to law school as "something to do" for the next three years? I am interested in law, but I know that jobs are scarce, and I can't say there is one area of law I definitely love yet. But I don't know what else to do. I'm working as a paralegal now and it's kind of boring, with no room for advancement (obviously without a JD). I could do almost anything I want, but I don't really care to do anything that bad. I don't have any connections outside of law, so while it would be cool to do something like bartending, I don't really care to do it bad enough to start at the bottom and work my way up.

Is it incorrect to look at law school as something to do for the next three years? Somewhere to meet new people, have some new opportunities, etc.? I understand there is a boatload of debt with law school, but I already have debt from undergrad which I'll be paying off for the next ten years. In some sick sense, it's like f*** it I'm already screwed. And let's face it, now that there is Income Based Repayment (loan repayment won't exceed 15% of your income), there is slightly less pressure to have to get a high-paying job when you're out. And consequently, there is less pressure to even get a law job. I could technically go to law school, decide I don't like it, and still try to get into something else.

Is law school the new college? (albeit with less parties and fun) Kind of like a college where you have more time to concentrate on what you want to do with your life?

[dougroberts]

Is the double post necessary?

[GermX]

I don't see why going to law school in order to be qualified for a high paying job is a bad thing. I am interested in law etc... but I am also very interested in at least having the possibility of securing a 100k+ job with a big law firm. I won't regret going to school if I don't get that, but it is what I want.

The economy might improve over these three years which bode well for the legal market.

[pugalicious]

So, enough about strictly the economy. If I wanted a stable job that paid well already, I'd be a cop/firefighter/government employee who work for twenty years and then receive a nice, government-backed pension. (I'm not degrading their work here, but just saying MANY are in a decent economic situation in those terms).

This. LOL @ "I would just get one of these jobs"...I don't know where you live, but in my state and those around it, all of those jobs have had hiring freezes for years, and pay/pensions are being cut across the board.

Why doe everyone think, "I can always just get a city job"? City jobs pay better and have better benefits than comparable jobs in the private sector, and as such, will have many more-qualified applicants than someone just out of college. Many times, for a city job, or an office-type job in a school district, you have to "know somebody" to even get an interview.

So don't count on those magical, "recession-proof" jobs to be your back-up.

[blurbz]

Is the double post necessary?

[waitlisted1]

I apologize about the double post. I wish I could delete the other one, I don't think the forum name applies. This is the forum index I intended it to be in.

[twert]

going to law school just to have something to do for three years isn't the worst idea ever. a lot of people are trying to wait out the economy by staying in graduate programs. you will meet people and be exposed to new things. however, the idea that you already have so much debt that 200k more wouldn't be a big deal is nonsense. If what you want is an interesting place to meet people and wait out the economy, and you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be, then it may be a decent decision.

[dominkay]

going to law school just to have something to do for three years isn't the worst idea ever. a lot of people are trying to wait out the economy by staying in graduate programs. you will meet people and be exposed to new things. however, the idea that you already have so much debt that 200k more wouldn't be a big deal is nonsense. If what you want is an interesting place to meet people and wait out the economy, and you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be, then it may be a decent decision.

Except that they wouldn't really be able to wait out the economy in law school. They'd be looking for a 1L SA at the end of their very first semester. And they would be bidding on 2L SAs before they even started their 2L year. In other words, they would get maybe a five month respite from The Economy. Is that really worth $200,000? Short answer: no.

[drdolittle]

Post-bac grad school in general is kind of like the new "college" because the value of an ordinary college degree has diminished so much in the last few decades. If you can afford it, have the interest & time and no other responsibility to sacrifice for it (which are big ifs for most), it's not a bad decision, even in the current economy. But for me going to law school without having any idea of what I'd focus on, at least initially, would be difficult and probably impossible.

[Patriot1208]

I'm debating whether to go to law school this fall.

I'm sick of the direction most of these discussions go in terms of money/jobs, etc. so PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING.

LAWYERS WONT MAKE MUCH MONEY: If you are going to law school simply for the exclusive title of "Esq.", which allows you to charge $250 per hour in your job, you're an idiot. I actually like the law, I actually enjoy helping people figure stuff out with the law. I also think it's a hard task to do correctly, and requires concentration and determination which most people just don't have when it comes to research/arguments...thus the compensation. That said, I think that the high pay we are used to seeing for stereotypical lawyers is a bit artificial since there are barriers to becoming a lawyer that many capable people just never had the opportunities to overcome. Recently, this advantage is unravelling because there is an abundance of lawyers and bad economy. I see this as a trend that will continue (as more law schools/lawyers develop); that is, the majority of the legal profession is not going to get paid well. Forget all this T1-T3 talk. Also, many of those high-paying jobs you get suck in terms quality of life (in other words, you get paid well, but you work 60+ hours).

So, enough about strictly the economy. If I wanted a stable job that paid well already, I'd be a cop/firefighter/government employee who work for twenty years and then receive a nice, government-backed pension. (I'm not degrading their work here, but just saying MANY are in a decent economic situation in those terms).

HERE'S MY QUESTION:

Is it a valid reason to go to law school as "something to do" for the next three years? I am interested in law, but I know that jobs are scarce, and I can't say there is one area of law I definitely love yet. But I don't know what else to do. I'm working as a paralegal now and it's kind of boring, with no room for advancement (obviously without a JD). I could do almost anything I want, but I don't really care to do anything that bad. I don't have any connections outside of law, so while it would be cool to do something like bartending, I don't really care to do it bad enough to start at the bottom and work my way up.

Is it incorrect to look at law school as something to do for the next three years? Somewhere to meet new people, have some new opportunities, etc.? I understand there is a boatload of debt with law school, but I already have debt from undergrad which I'll be paying off for the next ten years. In some sick sense, it's like f*** it I'm already screwed. And let's face it, now that there is Income Based Repayment (loan repayment won't exceed 15% of your income), there is slightly less pressure to have to get a high-paying job when you're out. And consequently, there is less pressure to even get a law job. I could technically go to law school, decide I don't like it, and still try to get into something else.

Is law school the new college? (albeit with less parties and fun) Kind of like a college where you have more time to concentrate on what you want to do with your life?

http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2007/11/ ... -debt.html

[pjo]

OP I kind of find it amusing that you spend the first part of your post reiterating what many ppl argue as the "downfall of the legal profession" --- too many schools, too many grads, and too many ppl see it as an easy place to sit and wait for three years while the economy improves. After you say this you ask if you should go and do exactly what you say is the problem with the legal profession. It really bothers me when ppl are just like "yea I think I'll take the LSAT and go to law school, I mean I can't get a job in anything else right now". I just took the LSAT after studying for 4 months. In the recent weeks I've had so many ppl tell me they're going to take in October but don't really plan on studying or anything, just want to "keep their options open". Seriously, when did it become so easy to just do the whole law school thing? OP if you want to go to law school for something to do, be my guest. Personally I think you're wasting your time because you're preventing yourself from doing something else you might actually enjoy. I mean if you just traveled all over for 3 years you'd meet a WHOLE LOT more ppl than you would in law school and it'd cost a whole lot less than 3yrs in law school. And seriously, don't underestimate 200k in loans just because you already have a lot in loans. I mean if you had 50k in the bank and someone offered you another 200k would you just be like "O no thanks, I already have a lot of money". This is basically what you're doing by taking on more debt.

[waitlisted1]

going to law school just to have something to do for three years isn't the worst idea ever. a lot of people are trying to wait out the economy by staying in graduate programs. you will meet people and be exposed to new things. however, the idea that you already have so much debt that 200k more wouldn't be a big deal is nonsense. If what you want is an interesting place to meet people and wait out the economy, and you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be, then it may be a decent decision.

Yea, good reply, seems to make sense. I guess my debt comment is my way to rationalize something that will suck. I don't have any full scholarships, so it's going to cost me alot. But I don't want money to be the reason I don't go.

In your last sentence you listed 3 conditions that would say I'm making a fair decision. If I'm looking for [#1] an interesting place to meet people [#2] wait out the economy, and [#3] you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be...

#1 and #2 are true, that is what I'm looking for. And since I still hope to have time/opportunity to explore other options while in law school, the degree will always allow me to fall-back to being an attorney. But #3 is false, I don't have full scholarships, law school is going to cost me alot.

Look, I love the law. My thing is that I wish you didn't have to go to law school to be an attorney (primarily because of the debt). I'm a paralegal now and I see how law school prepares the young associates (not that much). Anyone with reading/writing skills can be an attorney, it's the ABA and court culture that necessitates the degree. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist--I think this started out with good intentions. But it's not a perfect system and with the openness of the internet, I think the legal system and the education system is in for a big change, but I don't see that change happening for some years (I'd doubt any sooner than 8 years).

So I could risk that my prediction is true and wait 10 years until the day arrives where you don't need to go to law school to be an attorney. The problem is 10 years is a long time to wait (and it's only a prediction). Also, I don't know if I have the courage or the patience to wait that long.

So I have to go, and I have to take out loans. That sucks, but that is why I'm trying to look at the bright side of my loans.

[twert]

going to law school just to have something to do for three years isn't the worst idea ever. a lot of people are trying to wait out the economy by staying in graduate programs. you will meet people and be exposed to new things. however, the idea that you already have so much debt that 200k more wouldn't be a big deal is nonsense. If what you want is an interesting place to meet people and wait out the economy, and you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be, then it may be a decent decision.

Yea, good reply, seems to make sense. I guess my debt comment is my way to rationalize something that will suck. I don't have any full scholarships, so it's going to cost me alot. But I don't want money to be the reason I don't go.

In your last sentence you listed 3 conditions that would say I'm making a fair decision. If I'm looking for [#1] an interesting place to meet people [#2] wait out the economy, and [#3] you can get a full scholarship to a school in the area you want to be...

#1 and #2 are true, that is what I'm looking for. And since I still hope to have time/opportunity to explore other options while in law school, the degree will always allow me to fall-back to being an attorney. But #3 is false, I don't have full scholarships, law school is going to cost me alot.

Look, I love the law. My thing is that I wish you didn't have to go to law school to be an attorney (primarily because of the debt). I'm a paralegal now and I see how law school prepares the young associates (not that much). Anyone with reading/writing skills can be an attorney, it's the ABA and court culture that necessitates the degree. And I'm not a conspiracy theorist--I think this started out with good intentions. But it's not a perfect system and with the openness of the internet, I think the legal system and the education system is in for a big change, but I don't see that change happening for some years (I'd doubt any sooner than 8 years).

So I could risk that my prediction is true and wait 10 years until the day arrives where you don't need to go to law school to be an attorney. The problem is 10 years is a long time to wait (and it's only a prediction). Also, I don't know if I have the courage or the patience to wait that long.

So I have to go, and I have to take out loans. That sucks, but that is why I'm trying to look at the bright side of my loans.

from a purely financial standpoint, i think your going to law school is a bad decision. However, there is more to life than money, and based on what you have said, i say go to law school, have fun, good luck.

[GettingReady2010]

I'm debating whether to go to law school this fall.

I'm sick of the direction most of these discussions go in terms of money/jobs, etc. so PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING.

LAWYERS WONT MAKE MUCH MONEY: If you are going to law school simply for the exclusive title of "Esq.", which allows you to charge $250 per hour in your job, you're an idiot. I actually like the law, I actually enjoy helping people figure stuff out with the law. I also think it's a hard task to do correctly, and requires concentration and determination which most people just don't have when it comes to research/arguments...thus the compensation. That said, I think that the high pay we are used to seeing for stereotypical lawyers is a bit artificial since there are barriers to becoming a lawyer that many capable people just never had the opportunities to overcome. Recently, this advantage is unravelling because there is an abundance of lawyers and bad economy. I see this as a trend that will continue (as more law schools/lawyers develop); that is, the majority of the legal profession is not going to get paid well. Forget all this T1-T3 talk. Also, many of those high-paying jobs you get suck in terms quality of life (in other words, you get paid well, but you work 60+ hours).

So, enough about strictly the economy. If I wanted a stable job that paid well already, I'd be a cop/firefighter/government employee who work for twenty years and then receive a nice, government-backed pension. (I'm not degrading their work here, but just saying MANY are in a decent economic situation in those terms).

HERE'S MY QUESTION:

Is it a valid reason to go to law school as "something to do" for the next three years? I am interested in law, but I know that jobs are scarce, and I can't say there is one area of law I definitely love yet. But I don't know what else to do. I'm working as a paralegal now and it's kind of boring, with no room for advancement (obviously without a JD). I could do almost anything I want, but I don't really care to do anything that bad. I don't have any connections outside of law, so while it would be cool to do something like bartending, I don't really care to do it bad enough to start at the bottom and work my way up.

Is it incorrect to look at law school as something to do for the next three years? Somewhere to meet new people, have some new opportunities, etc.? I understand there is a boatload of debt with law school, but I already have debt from undergrad which I'll be paying off for the next ten years. In some sick sense, it's like f*** it I'm already screwed. And let's face it, now that there is Income Based Repayment (loan repayment won't exceed 15% of your income), there is slightly less pressure to have to get a high-paying job when you're out. And consequently, there is less pressure to even get a law job. I could technically go to law school, decide I don't like it, and still try to get into something else.

Is law school the new college? (albeit with less parties and fun) Kind of like a college where you have more time to concentrate on what you want to do with your life?

I completely agreed with you when I first started reading your post. Then you started talking like the typical undergrad who has decided that s/he has nothing better to do and wants to avoid the economy, so they've decided on a whim to go to law school. Because the profession has been held in high regard in the past, people seem to assume that they'll undoubtedly receive the prestige and recognition they so desperately crave. These people, however, do not realize that the profession has been watered down so much to the point that a J.D. is now equivalent to a masters degree in psychology. The good news is that everyone is gradually catching on.

I'm NOT saying this is the way you think, but it seems to be the norm for many (most?) people that want to pursue a career in law. They see movies and TV (i.e. Ari Gold) and think that they're going to be this fat cat partner at a M&A firm in Manhattan. And the problem is that no one around them will tell them this is not true, because they too have the media's notion of what a lawyer is. It's annoying, because any and everyone is going to law school and the ABA is too apathetic to do anything (unlike the AMA). Today, it seems like the only remaining profession that has any inkling of respect anymore is medicine.

[Grizz]

The economy might improve over these three years which bode well for the legal market.

About a year and 3 months-ish until 2L OCI, son.

[RunningFromTheLaw]

So, enough about strictly the economy. If I wanted a stable job that paid well already, I'd be a cop/firefighter/government employee who work for twenty years and then receive a nice, government-backed pension. (I'm not degrading their work here, but just saying MANY are in a decent economic situation in those terms).

This. LOL @ "I would just get one of these jobs"...I don't know where you live, but in my state and those around it, all of those jobs have had hiring freezes for years, and pay/pensions are being cut across the board.

Why doe everyone think, "I can always just get a city job"? City jobs pay better and have better benefits than comparable jobs in the private sector, and as such, will have many more-qualified applicants than someone just out of college. Many times, for a city job, or an office-type job in a school district, you have to "know somebody" to even get an interview.

So don't count on those magical, "recession-proof" jobs to be your back-up.

I'm from Arkansas where the cost of living isn't that high. When I first got out of college I taught middle school science. I quit making only about 33k. At the time I pulled some 24 hour shifts on the weekends as a paramedic with the county ambulance service making all of $7.62 per hour. It wasn't bad. It gave something interesting to my life, plus I had time to sit around the station grading papers which I hated. I got out of teaching due to the grading, lesson plans, and dealing with kids I couldn't hit, lol.

I became a cop in the same town making all of 31k, and I actually got 7.5% more than other officers without a bachelor's degree. The city F.D. had the same salary schedule the P.D. did, and we all made more than the county sheriff's deputies. Just for reference here, I have an interdisciplinary studies degree, never took one course in education, and had only one course in the criminal justice area.

I moved to a state position making less than what I was making when I quit the city job, but I surpassed that within about a year, became a supervisor and added more to my wallet.

The moral of the story is; city/county/state jobs aren't always better. However, I recently read on here a family lawyer in Cali making around 60k I think. I could be wrong. You can work at LAPD and make well over that.

[Thomas Jefferson]

The economy might improve over these three years which bode well for the legal market.

About a year and 3 months-ish until 2L OCI, son.

Please don't remind us.

::sticks head back in sand::

[lawschoollll]

Uh, sorry if I missed something, but um, what are your school options?

Your debt is of a higher quality if you are indebted to Harvard than if you are indebted to John Marshall.

[drdolittle]

I'm from Arkansas where the cost of living isn't that high. When I first got out of college I taught middle school science. I quit making only about 33k. At the time I pulled some 24 hour shifts on the weekends as a paramedic with the county ambulance service making all of $7.62 per hour. It wasn't bad. It gave something interesting to my life, plus I had time to sit around the station grading papers which I hated. I got out of teaching due to the grading, lesson plans, and dealing with kids I couldn't hit, lol.

I became a cop in the same town making all of 31k, and I actually got 7.5% more than other officers without a bachelor's degree. The city F.D. had the same salary schedule the P.D. did, and we all made more than the county sheriff's deputies. Just for reference here, I have an interdisciplinary studies degree, never took one course in education, and had only one course in the criminal justice area.

I moved to a state position making less than what I was making when I quit the city job, but I surpassed that within about a year, became a supervisor and added more to my wallet.

The moral of the story is; city/county/state jobs aren't always better. However, I recently read on here a family lawyer in Cali making around 60k I think. I could be wrong. You can work at LAPD and make well over that.

Yeah, your perspective might be a little different if you had these jobs in CA, the land of fire/police chiefs, city electricians, prison guards, tenured state university professors, etc...making above $100K/year base. On the down side, the state's bankrupt and rapidly becoming a cautionary tale for the future of the US economy...Oh, and these high paying public sector jobs in CA heavily depend on cronyism and/or very restrictive hiring policies. I'd get the hell out of here ASAP if it wasn't my home...

[GettingReady2010]

I'm from Arkansas where the cost of living isn't that high. When I first got out of college I taught middle school science. I quit making only about 33k. At the time I pulled some 24 hour shifts on the weekends as a paramedic with the county ambulance service making all of $7.62 per hour. It wasn't bad. It gave something interesting to my life, plus I had time to sit around the station grading papers which I hated. I got out of teaching due to the grading, lesson plans, and dealing with kids I couldn't hit, lol.

I became a cop in the same town making all of 31k, and I actually got 7.5% more than other officers without a bachelor's degree. The city F.D. had the same salary schedule the P.D. did, and we all made more than the county sheriff's deputies. Just for reference here, I have an interdisciplinary studies degree, never took one course in education, and had only one course in the criminal justice area.

I moved to a state position making less than what I was making when I quit the city job, but I surpassed that within about a year, became a supervisor and added more to my wallet.

The moral of the story is; city/county/state jobs aren't always better. However, I recently read on here a family lawyer in Cali making around 60k I think. I could be wrong. You can work at LAPD and make well over that.

Yeah, your perspective might be a little different if you had these jobs in CA, the land of fire/police chiefs, city electricians, prison guards, tenured state university professors, etc...making above $100K/year base. On the down side, the state's bankrupt and rapidly becoming a cautionary tale for the future of the US economy...Oh, and these high paying public sector jobs in CA heavily depend on cronyism and/or very restrictive hiring policies. I'd get the hell out of here ASAP if it wasn't my home...

Exactly. The sense of entitlement is insane. With that said, I think that figure of 100k is a bit high.

[legalease9]

Law school is a very bad decision for you. (Edit: OP) The fact that you find paralegal work boring is a REALLY bad start. A lot of lawyer work is paralegal work with a tiny extra bit of prestige.

I've heard this argument a lot that you might as well drown yourself with debt because you are finding it difficult to swim in the debt you already have. This is wrong (even with IBR). There's no reason to drown yourself in debt for something you aren't sure you really want to pursue for a career.

Going to law school to meet people is also the wrong decision. You will meet people in LS, sure. But there are lots of ways to meet people. Law school is a VERY expensive method of doing so.

[drdolittle]

Yeah, your perspective might be a little different if you had these jobs in CA, the land of fire/police chiefs, city electricians, prison guards, tenured state university professors, etc...making above $100K/year base. On the down side, the state's bankrupt and rapidly becoming a cautionary tale for the future of the US economy...Oh, and these high paying public sector jobs in CA heavily depend on cronyism and/or very restrictive hiring policies. I'd get the hell out of here ASAP if it wasn't my home...

Exactly. The sense of entitlement is insane. With that said, I think that figure of 100k is a bit high.

It definitely seems high, but unfortunately it's not too gross an exaggeration. To be clear, I wasn't talking about entry level, though that's not bad either. Just google CA salaries for the jobs I listed if you're curious. Also, check sfgate for a recent story about SF city electricians, some making above $100K & others close to it, who recently were caught embezzling from the city. CSU and UC professor salaries are public record and you could check them via sfgate too (google "uc salaries"). And I know many high UC tenured prof salaries are base and require very little teaching. It's not like all those profs earning the big bucks bring in a shitload of grants (as some do) to justify their pay either.

[Thomas Jefferson]

Law school is a very bad decision for you. (Edit: OP) The fact that you find paralegal work boring is a REALLY bad start. A lot of lawyer work is paralegal work with a tiny extra bit of prestige.

I've heard this argument a lot that you might as well drown yourself with debt because you are finding it difficult to swim in the debt you already have. This is wrong (even with IBR). There's no reason to drown yourself in debt for something you aren't sure you really want to pursue for a career.

Going to law school to meet people is also the wrong decision. You will meet people in LS, sure. But there are lots of ways to meet people. Law school is a VERY expensive method of doing so.

I'm one of the biggest advocates of milking IBR for all it's worth, but this is quite, quite credited.

[sumus romani]

The OP is right from a merely descriptive perspective. First, we all know that undrgrad college is the new high school. So many jobs pretty much require a college degree now that didn't before (policeman, etc.). So, graduate schools are indeed the new college. It is a shame that going to the new high school is so expensive, but it is true. It is also a shame that going to the new college is yet even more expensive. Basically, everyone has to take on debt (or have parents who pay for higher ed.) just to qualify for the minimum.

[swlaw4365]

Yeah, your perspective might be a little different if you had these jobs in CA, the land of fire/police chiefs, city electricians, prison guards, tenured state university professors, etc...making above $100K/year base. On the down side, the state's bankrupt and rapidly becoming a cautionary tale for the future of the US economy...Oh, and these high paying public sector jobs in CA heavily depend on cronyism and/or very restrictive hiring policies. I'd get the hell out of here ASAP if it wasn't my home...

Exactly. The sense of entitlement is insane. With that said, I think that figure of 100k is a bit high.

It definitely seems high, but unfortunately it's not too gross an exaggeration. To be clear, I wasn't talking about entry level, though that's not bad either. Just google CA salaries for the jobs I listed if you're curious. Also, check sfgate for a recent story about SF city electricians, some making above $100K & others close to it, who recently were caught embezzling from the city. CSU and UC professor salaries are public record and you could check them via sfgate too (google "uc salaries"). And I know many high UC tenured prof salaries are base and require very little teaching. It's not like all those profs earning the big bucks bring in a shitload of grants (as some do) to justify their pay either.

The problem with CA is that PD and FD jobs allow almost unlimited overtime to be paid and it is milking the state dry. I have a friend who is a LA County Sheriff and he makes close to $100K a year. This state is indeed on the cusp of financial oblivion and I would urge any prospective law students to avoid any school in the state with the exception of Stanford or Berkeley. CA just sucks right now and will probably suck for a long time. Our budget deficit isn't going anywhere for a long time. Plus, good ole' Arnie just cut pay for state workers, not to mention that almost every government agency in CA is on a hiring freeze, including PD and FD.
The profs making tons of money at CSU's is true as well. I went to CSUN and the profs would complain about their work load to the students, then, as you go to the parking lot, you see them get into a Lexus or BMW and drive away. It just seems like a shitty system....at least at CSUN.