Another state law school?
ISU may add law school
Indiana State University is considering establishing a law school, which would make it the third public law school in Indiana.
In the article, ISU President Lloyd Benjamin says “there is a fairly significant unmet need in Indiana of students who desire to go to law school but who are not admitted because of a lack of capacity." However, the state commissioner for higher education, Stan Jones, remarks “I've not been aware that we need more lawyers in the state."
Stan Jones is right. There is a severe shortage of nurses and pharmacists all over the country, but it is just the opposite for lawyers. There are too many lawyers and not enough good jobs. The lack of capacity is not the issue. If some students are not admitted to law school it is because they did not qualify with their grades or admission scores. I understand Indiana State is looking for a way to grow, but there are other professions where the need is urgent such as those in the healthcare industry. Instead, Indiana State should investigate the need for a pharmacy program or expand what it offers in nursing.
Other bloggers who have commented on this story: Indiana Parley, Opening Arguments and Indiana Barrister
Update: Indianapolis Star: Law School Proposal could may raise objections
Indiana State University is considering establishing a law school, which would make it the third public law school in Indiana.
In the article, ISU President Lloyd Benjamin says “there is a fairly significant unmet need in Indiana of students who desire to go to law school but who are not admitted because of a lack of capacity." However, the state commissioner for higher education, Stan Jones, remarks “I've not been aware that we need more lawyers in the state."
Stan Jones is right. There is a severe shortage of nurses and pharmacists all over the country, but it is just the opposite for lawyers. There are too many lawyers and not enough good jobs. The lack of capacity is not the issue. If some students are not admitted to law school it is because they did not qualify with their grades or admission scores. I understand Indiana State is looking for a way to grow, but there are other professions where the need is urgent such as those in the healthcare industry. Instead, Indiana State should investigate the need for a pharmacy program or expand what it offers in nursing.
Other bloggers who have commented on this story: Indiana Parley, Opening Arguments and Indiana Barrister
Update: Indianapolis Star: Law School Proposal could may raise objections
posted by torporindy at 12/11/2005
11 Comments:
Hospitals can't find enough nurses now. Over the next 10 years approximately 1/3 of teachers in the state will retire. Plenty of needs in those fields.
As a 2005 law school grad I STILL don't have a job in my field. This state's economy is so weak we don't need even more lawyers graduating.
To be blunt if your grades and LSAT scores aren't that good then maybe you shouldn't be a lawyer. If you're a qualified candidate you'll be accepted to some school in the US.
Brian, exactly. I do not see why this state needs to make space for those who otherwise would have to go to law school at Thomas Cooley. That's ridiculous.
(sighs)
They go for the money rather than the ideal...
Lemming is right.
The law was supposed be a mechanism for regulating human society.
But in practice, it's license to intimidate, disable, disempower, and extort one's adversaries.
Corruption, injustice, mayhem and shenanigans under the color of law is a cliché.
The institution of Law itself is without merit.
I'm going to disagree with moulton a bit.
lemming is right in they go for the money, but in this case THEY is ISU going for the money of tuition from students willing to go into insane amounts of debt.
A third public law school is simply a money grabbing scheme by ISU. Luckily the powers that be already aren't impressed with the idea.
Money grubbing is a prime motivation for people going into politics and law.
If they really wanted to come up with a way to engage in ethical statecraft, they'd study cybernetics instead of law.
Moulton-
So encouraging to hear the two decades and hundred and fifty thousand dollars I spent educating myself in law and politics and advocating both in the United States and abroad was wasted. If I'd spent more time posting about cybernetics and less getting mugged in third world countries, not only would my work be worthwhile, but I wouldn't need to be embarrassed for my participation in a trade bereft of merit. I'm not sure where this greed myth comes from. I understand public defenders and advocates aren't very visible, but for every lawyer in a three piece, there are two working for a fraction of what they would make in the private sector.
On the more substantive topic, it bears mentioning that at my public university, law grads donate more money to the university system than any other grad school group. These donations are disbursed to schools within the university based upon the number of students in the school, and help make nursing college affordable (nurses often cannot afford to donate). Law schools expand a university's base of well-paid alumnus, and as such can be used as part of a sustainable solution to the problem of funding schools for art and medicine. Further, lawyers are in demand, at least in some places. Our school's 2005 graduating class has reported 98% employment six months after graduation. I can only hope 2006 goes the same way...
The two decades I spent preparing myself to contribute to the smooth operation of the most functional high technology system ever crafted was similarly flushed down the drain (by government lawyers in three piece suits).
There may be too many lawyers, but there are not enough good ones....
:)
Do you know the definition of a "Damn Shame"?
A Damn Shame is when a busload of lawyers goes off a cliff...
...
... with three empty seats.
No offense, but I might make the same joke about internet pundits.
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