//this function refreshes [adhesion] ad slot every 60 second and makes prebid bid on it every 60 seconds // Set timer to refresh slot every 60 seconds function setIntervalMobile() { if (!device.mobile()) return if (adhesion) setInterval(function(){ googletag.pubads().refresh([adhesion]); }, 60000); } if(device.desktop()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [728, 90], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } else if(device.tablet()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } else if(device.mobile()) { googletag.cmd.push(function() { leaderboard_top = googletag.defineSlot('/22018898626/LC_Article_detail_page', [320, 50], 'div-gpt-ad-1591620860846-0').setTargeting('pos', ['1']).setTargeting('div_id', ['leaderboard_top']).addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); googletag.enableServices(); }); } googletag.cmd.push(function() { // Enable lazy loading with... googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ // Fetch slots within 5 viewports. // fetchMarginPercent: 500, fetchMarginPercent: 100, // Render slots within 2 viewports. // renderMarginPercent: 200, renderMarginPercent: 100, // Double the above values on mobile, where viewports are smaller // and users tend to scroll faster. mobileScaling: 2.0 }); });

Should I Go to Law School? Advice on the Changing Legal Market

Most law firms avoid posting jobs on Indeed or LinkedIn due to high costs. Instead, they publish them on their own websites, bar association pages, and niche legal boards. LawCrossing finds these hidden jobs, giving you access to exclusive opportunities. Sign up now!

published July 23, 2013

Shane Fischer, Attorney at Law

Should I Go to Law School? Advice on the Changing Legal Market

The single biggest problem is too much supply and not enough demand. In other words, TOO MANY LAWYERS and not enough jobs.

Click Here to Find Law Student Jobs on LawCrossing

My biggest piece of advice is to not go to law school unless you are absolutely sure you want to practice law. Of those who attend law school, only about 10% do it because they have a burning desire to be a lawyer; the rest go for other, misguided reasons: not sure what to do with life, pressure from family, misguided belief that they will be happy as a lawyer, dissatisfaction with current career, etc. And don't believe the marketing spin law school administrators love to put on their school: law school is a trade school, like carpentry or aircraft mechanic school. Despite what magazines and law school administrators tell you, a law degree is pretty useless outside of the practice of law. That is because law doesn't teach you anything about business; rather, you just learn a bunch of theoretical concepts that have minimal use outside a law firm setting. Sure, there are some longtime employment lawyers who eventually go into management, or real estate attorneys who segue into real estate development, but for the general litigator there is very little crossover between your law career and a business career. Additionally, potential employers are hesitant to hire attorneys because they perceive you as argumentative and confrontational.

Click Here to Find Summer Associate Jobs on LawCrossing

Additionally, law school is a HUGE commitment. 3 years and tens (or hundreds) of thousands of dollars. Why go and commit that much if you're not sure you're going to like it? I tell people who are considering law school to work for a law firm part time for a couple years to see if you like it. If you don't like it, you haven't lost much, except some part time hours. But what you will have gained in wisdom and perspective will more than make up for potential lost income from other jobs.

If after reading this you are still interested in going to law school, do everything you can to get as much practical experience as possible: internships, pro bono work, working for attorneys part time, etc. so you can get your name out there and prove to potential employers that you can "hit the ground running" and can jump right into practice upon graduation. This will help separate you from the pack of other grads that spent their entire law school existence in a library reading, and have no clue how to actually practice law.

Click Here to View the 2015 LawCrossing Salary Survey of Lawyer Salaries in the Best Law Firms

Gain an advantage in your legal job search. LawCrossing uncovers hidden positions that firms post on their own websites and industry-specific job boards—jobs that never appear on Indeed or LinkedIn. Don't miss out. Sign up now!