Law Students As Plaintiffs Against Law Schools
This may very well be old news, as the story appeared March 22, 2012 in the Wall Street Journal.
Across the country, there are 14 law suits brought by law students against their law schools that accuse the schools of “luring students with misleading postgraduate job statistics and leaving them saddled with debt at a time of contraction in the legal industry.”
Nine New York Law School graduates alleged in a lawsuit that New York Law School’s marketing materials stated that between 90 percent and 92 percent of law students secured full-time jobs with law firms after graduation.
A judge in New York sided with the law school and threw out the case suggesting the students were smarter than that and could ascertain their options before making choices about where to attend post-graduate college and for which advanced degree.
The students sought $225 million in damages from the school. The plaintiffs’ lawyer David Anziska is going to appeal, and he has led efforts to sue other law schools across the country, as well.
So, I need to ask, law student readers, is this a waste of time, good practice for your future as a trial lawyer, or will it put a black mark on your curriculum vitae when you interview for a position with a law firm?
It seems to me that anyone entering law school is highly intelligent. They conduct extreme due diligence to research law school options, rankings, cost, scholarships, and more. People entering law school know the situation in the legal sector is dire for employment directly from school. That’s a risk everyone takes upon making the decision to enter law school, right?
How then should these plaintiffs across the country expect to win especially in light of the New York Supreme Court justice’s decision to toss this case out? And, a final question…if these law student graduates are saddled with exorbitant debt from law school, how then are they paying Mr. Anziska for his legal fees to bring this case and appeal?
Just asking.
Wow really? Using what they learned in school to take down their school. That’s childish behaviour. The thing is, you’re never *guaranteed* anything in life.. I’m totally baffled by the students audacity. It’s almost like biting the hand that feeds you.
Hey, Will; thanks for stopping by today. When I read the decision on this, I knew I had to write about it. They sued for $200,000; that’s not even enough to down all the law school debt nine of them amassed.
Secondly, I wonder how this could be positive for career development in the future? I’m sure recruiters have a list with people who file law suits against employers, or in this case a college.
It baffles me, too. One would think the plaintiffs’ lawyer wouldn’t want this case or at least have counseled them differently?
I hope others share some thoughts; I’m still waiting for the ah-hah in this story.
Entitlement generation, much?
If they were smart enough to get into law school, they should have been smart enough to see through a law school’s “statistics” and marketing. And these represent the best critical thinkers?
But what do I know. I was a communications major. On loans. Ain’t no one making any guarantees there…
I should add that my husband graduated from law school with a ridiculous amount of loans. I get that it’s scary. Better start hustling.
There are wonderful programs to defer payments; just don’t default! Apparently, there’s an exorbitant number floating around about student loans as the majority of personal debt. When schools keep raising tuition, uhmmm, yes; we’re all suffering as a result.
Good luck with yours! And, hubby, too!
Hi, Carie…spot on. I’m in shock about this and it sickens me that someone smart enough to get into law school (as you said) would be too stupid to read the fine print. It’s all a ploy for some attention, and it’s going to kick them in the you know where in the future.
Do you think they were doing this to get five minutes of “fame”? Not sure who’s giving it to them, but maybe they also thought they’d open the door to get hired somewhere because of their gumption.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Appreciate it!
You hit the head on the nail right there.. the impression that I got is they did have a sense of entitlement.
The vast majority of law students are NOT “sophisticated consumers” as that judge would have you believe. Far from it. Also, the post seems to imply that students will receive job interviews.
Hi, Luke; thanks for coming by. Sorry if you thought these students would get job interviews as a result of what’s written. I just looked through and can’t find where that might be inferred.
Not having been through law school myself, I would give law students the benefit of the doubt, though, and suggest that anyone working that hard through an advanced degree has to have some sophistication of intelligence?
Who cares how intelligent these law students are or if they feel entitled? Law schools should not be grossly misleading in their employment statistics, and we’ll leave in a better world if these students win their suits and the law schools reform to be honest and ethical. This article is pretty sad, don’t you have anything better to do than attack people whose actions, if successful, would help make the world a more honest place?
Hi, Bob, and thanks for coming in to express your opinion. In the spirit of blogging, we bloggers are supposed to offer up content that provokes thoughtful discussion; however, in this community we prefer to keep it collegial.
I’d like to invite you to guest post here and share your approach to this issue; perhaps from the law school perspective in how they are “grossly misleading.”
Did you graduate from law school? That would be an interesting piece you could write based on your comments here.
Also, I checked out Bob@bob.com and if that’s indeed your website; wow, that’s a pretty impressive business! “The world’s number one seller of collectible stock and bond certificates!” Would you care to write a blog post for us to share how you got into that business in addition to the legal parameters associated with it?
Please advise, and thanks for sharing; all opinions welcome in the spirit of friendly debate. We look forward to your submissions subject to approval from the JD Match executive team. Thank you.