For the past four years my wife was in law school (it was a four year part-time evening program). All the while, I kept reading about the doom and gloom in the job market. Everyone, apparently, decided to go to law school after the economy crashed in 2007 and demand for jobs was rising while the supply was decreasing. Coupled with growing debt, I was really becoming concerned on whether or not the endeavor would actually pay off and if all her hard work and sacrifice was for naught. We never had the ambition (or delusion) of a 6-figure associate job at a top firm, but from all the reports, we were in an almost hopeless situation. Four years of time sacrificed, more than half of it financed with debt, the rest with savings, and good luck finding a job.
In the end: a job was in place before graduation. The same thing was true for most of her friends. In fact, she never mentioned one friend who wasn't able to find employment before taking the bar exam.
I don't doubt any job squeeze, but the horror stories I heard about the job market for law school grads were far from realized for anyone we knew. And this was not an Ivy League school churning out highly credentialed grads. It was a state school that didn't have particularly stringent entrance requirements.
My anecdotal experience is almost opposite yours. My girlfriend graduated last year, and her and most of her friends cannot find jobs in the law space. Most of her friends who did find jobs are getting paid less than I got paid as a lifeguard before I received my undergrad degree, in comp. sci.
Which, as it happens, was enough of a salary to graduate with zero debt and make a considerable amount right out of college. I do not know may law grads who can say that.
If you don't mind sharing, what school did she go to? Is she working for a firm practicing law or doing something related (but still requiring the degree)? I'm assuming she would not have accepted a job not requiring the degree before even graduating.
In the end: a job was in place before graduation. The same thing was true for most of her friends. In fact, she never mentioned one friend who wasn't able to find employment before taking the bar exam.
I don't doubt any job squeeze, but the horror stories I heard about the job market for law school grads were far from realized for anyone we knew. And this was not an Ivy League school churning out highly credentialed grads. It was a state school that didn't have particularly stringent entrance requirements.