The Pope Center’s Jesse Saffron, a graduate of the University of Baltimore Law School, writes here about his journey into legal education, his experiences, and offers some cautionary words for those who are thinking about going to law school.
Ten years ago, most Americans thought that earning a J.D. (from any law school) was a good use of time and money, even if the student did not wind up with a job in the legal profession. That perception has changed a lot and many schools are downsizing. In truth, there is no reason to require prospective lawyers to endure three years of law school before they can be allowed to attempt the bar exam. The standard model of legal education, approved by the American Bar Association as a barrier to entry into their guild, wastes a lot of resources and ought to be jettisoned in favor of a free market in legal training.