Law School Tuition Climbs Despite Legal Recession

Tuition has risen for the 2010-2011 academic year at law schools across the country, though jobs for young lawyers are increasingly hard to come by.

Recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that 4,000 jobs in the legal sector were cut in June and July, capping a 12-month stretch in which the field lost about 17,000 positions. Summer associate programs, often a stable track to future employment for law students, also fell victim to a sour economy.

But more law school admission tests were administered in the most recent testing year than ever before. From June 2009 to February 2010, there were 171,514 requests for the LSAT, a 13.3 percent increase from the previous year, says Wendy Margolis, communications director at the nonprofit Law School Admission Council, which administers the test.

With demand and costs climbing while job prospects diminish, what’s happening to the value of a legal education? The answer is debatable, at least for the J.D. credential itself, says William Henderson, a professor at the Indiana University–Bloomington Maurer School of Law.

“I think [law school] makes you a better problem solver, but . . . is it worth $50,000 a year?” he says. “For signaling value, the answer is increasingly ‘no.’ ”

Aiming high. Henderson notes that in this economic climate, even a degree from a top law school does not guarantee a job. But Ann Levine, a law school admissions consultant, says that dimming job prospects and increasingly high tuition have yet to deter those in her nationwide client pool from seeking elite placements.

“I had thought people would be more concerned about scholarships and willing to let go of ranking a little bit. I was wrong,” Levine says. “People want to generally go to the best law school they can get into, regardless of costs.”

One of Levine’s clients, Oriana Pietrangelo, turned down several full rides in favor of a partial scholarship this fall to the University of Notre Dame Law School, a highly ranked school whose “name goes fairly far,” Pietrangelo says.

“It would have been nice to not have any debt,” she says. “But I feel like I’m more likely to have a better job and higher paying salary going to Notre Dame as opposed to somewhere else.”

While “everyone talks about the cost of tuition,” Levine says, “it’s actually not going to impact demand greatly because I think people see it as somewhat inevitable and beyond their control.”

Reasons for tuition increases vary by school, though the pattern is that tuition rarely goes down. Instead, relatively small tuition increases are touted as big news. At Vanderbilt University Law School, tuition will increase 2.7 percent to $44,900 before fees, the smallest uptick in 44 years, according to the school.

Public law schools are feeling the heat of tight state budgets. Funding for higher education has been slashed in at least 43 financially strapped states, according to a report from the nonprofit Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Higher education funding in Texas, for example, was reduced by $73 million, and public universities in Indiana saw a $150 million decrease this year. The budget pressures are pushing tuition upward.

Still, law school officials voice continued support for ambitious students choosing a legal education, especially when the curricula embrace the changing tides of the professional market.

“I think that law school remains a great investment because of the kinds of analytical skills law school teaches,” says Paul Schiff Berman, dean of Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, “whether you end up practicing at a law firm, or going into business, or going into government.”

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Finish, Don't Start, Your Degree Online

A decade ago, a résumé boasting a degree from an online university probably would have drawn a chuckle from a prospective employer, followed by a quick trip to the wastebasket. While a fully online education still is not as highly regarded as a traditional one, experts say, momentum appears to be changing that. Last year, full-time online programs' share of the bachelor's degree market rose by 17 percent to 8.3 percent, according to research firm Eduventures. "In general, there's an increasing respect for these institutions," says Steve Isaac, CEO of EducationDynamics, an education marketing firm.

[Read about the recession's toll on higher education.]

Still, online degrees are most useful for those who didn't finish college but are employed and looking to get ahead, notes Trace Urdan, managing director at investment bank Signal Hill Capital. Only about 57 percent of college students obtain a degree within six years of starting school, creating a massive market for degree completion options, which online universities have sought to fill.

Tuition at most for-profit institutions is about $10,000 annually for a full load, and many employers are happy to pick up the tab, as evidenced by the sizable portion of online universities' revenue coming from employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement, says Urdan. He says those looking for their first job may find that online degrees have marginal value, though the University of Phoenix and Kaplan are battling that perception with aggressive marketing campaigns.

[Learn more about online education.]

Alex Clark, vice president for public relations at Apollo Group, the University of Phoenix's parent, points out that Apple, Boeing, Google, and the FBI have all sent workers there. "It's not fair to say that employers don't value online degrees," Urdan says, "because I think that they do for employees that they already know and trust."

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Americans Are Pessimistic About the Economy

7 0f 10 Americans are Doing Fine

They are working, airplane bookings are full, cruises too, sport event tickets are sold out, restaurants are packed, premium TV channels are common, private schools still have waiting lines for enrollment with big tuitions, lots of newer cars on the roads, gasoline prices have dropped 50 cents/gallon or more here since 2008, my income taxes dropped some due to the middle class tax cut in 2009. See the following too regarding healthcare expense increases published by Kaiser:

"HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUMS AND WORKER CONTRIBUTIONS

The average annual premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in 2010 are $5,049 for single coverage and $13,770 for family coverage. Compared to 2009, premiums for single coverage are 5% higher ($4,824) and premiums for family coverage are 3% higher ($13,375). Since 2000, average premiums for family coverage have increased 114%...." The past 9 years health insurance rates had been rising at 12% or more. Since the health reform bill - in 2010 they rose only 5%. So that is better.

Our unemployment where I live dropped from 10.2% in 2008 to 8.8% now. But these stats are regional, and we all know that manufacturing areas have been hit harder.

My friends and family are all working in decent jobs. They got their college degrees, learned something useful, and were willing to relocate to get in the door. None are CEO's but they are secure and steadily employed.

What has truly changed is that many Americans have come to realize that the Easter Bunny is not responsible for their finances, and they can't borrow what they cannot afford. Too many were living on credit, and thought the Disney version of life would allow them to refinance every time they wanted to buy something.

What the government has spent on like a maniac is WAR. Defense spending rose by $300 billion since 2000. Why no complaints about that?

It is not up to the government to create jobs. Corporations, and you and I are supposed to do that. So, instead of waiting for the government to "do something", let's US do something. Successful people don't wait for others. They take it on themselves to create new opportunities. Some of the old days and jobs will not be returning.....

DeeToo of SC @ Sep 11, 2010 01:24:05 AM

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7 Toxic Attitudes That Can Harm Your Career

Great Article!

This is a great article with some simple, yet meaty food for thought.

But, I must say I struggle with some of the remarks you provide for #1. "Demonstrating capability" does not necessarily secure promotion. There are quite a few people I've seen who clearly deserved promotion, but due to many factors - some beyond their control - they cannot get promoted. I'm not talking about excuses for lack of execution, I'm talking about the corporate culture, a lack of defined promotion/career paths, a professionally jealous boss, etc. that could all be playing a part.

When I was a new secretary at a large company, I volunteered for extra projects, took on new responsibilities often, and frequently went above and beyond my core job duties - and delivered high quality results on time every time. My hope was to eventually work my way up to a Project Admin/Coordinator type position. However, when the time came for my review, I found out the hard way that those types of promotions simply didn't exist for that role. In this particular company, once a secretary, always a secretary (that limitation has since changed).

The moral of the story is, before you beat yourself up trying to "prove yourself", and then wondering why you are never promoted, make sure promotion is possible. It may not be. Ideally, you find this out before accepting the position in the first place...

However, for people who are already "there" and are executing #1's advice to the letter, yet are still stagnant should schedule a meeting with their boss to talk about career path opportunities. Don't wait around for the once-a-year review cycle, because then it will be too late. If they know in advance you want to move up, they can do any required pre-work on their side (and possibly schedule you for training, if needed) before your next review comes up.

AC of OH @ Sep 10, 2010 13:03:43 PM

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A Numbers Game for High School Counselors

After graduating as his high school's valedictorian in 2005, Christopher Mayhew majored in molecular and cellular biology at Johns Hopkins University and last year landed a job as an analyst with a Stamford, Conn., investment firm. Ask the native of Boise, Idaho, whose advice helped him transition from high school to college to career and he'll name his parents, friends, and some teachers and coaches. One person he won't mention is his high school guidance counselor. "We never interacted," says Mayhew, 23. "When there are four counselors in a school of 1,200 kids, you become more of a number."

Mayhew isn't the only young adult giving high school guidance counseling poor grades. A recent survey for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation found that most people who started college called the advice they received "inadequate and often impersonal or perfunctory." Some 48 percent of the 22- to 30-year-olds polled (614 in all) said their counselors saw them as "just another face in the crowd."

[Read about the recession's toll on higher education.]

Students who are poorly counseled in high school are more likely to delay college and make questionable higher education choices, says Jean Johnson, coauthor of the study released by Public Agenda in March. "Counseling does seem to be the weak link," says Johnson.

John Boshoven, a director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling, says the study only confirmed what counselors already know: Budget cuts are forcing them to spend more time on administrative tasks and less time with students. "Our caseloads are large and in many cases they're getting larger," says Boshoven, a counselor at Community High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. In most large public high schools, he says, counselors spend only 10 percent of their time counseling students about college.

Though the American School Counselor Association says a student-counselor ratio of 250 to 1 is "optimal," the average nationally is 460 to 1, and it's much higher in states like California (1,000 to 1).

"The reality is even though we have high ratios in our schools, so many people still want individualized services," says Vanessa Gomez-Lee, a counselor at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, Calif.

Mayhew's suggestion to high schoolers is to consider the quest for college advice an education in itself. "At some point in life, taking initiative becomes key," he says. "Perhaps independently navigating the college application process is one of these first steps."

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The Economical Appeal of Mini-MBAs

MBAs can typically cost students anywhere from $50,000 to upwards of $200,000 for only two years of education.  However, for those students who simply want to supplement their business knowledge in order to make better decisions in their career, mini MBAs are now an attractive solution to this dilemma.  Mini-MBAs typically cost less than $5,000 and offer business professionals an insight into the program, as well as other career-driven students who need some business background in order to make informed decisions. 

Mini-MBAs developed as part of the executive MBA program and typically give students a condensed overlook of the program without delving too deeply into topics.  While this may not be enough for the business professional who wants to move ahead in the company, this is perfect for the person who wants to own his own business and does not want to have the burden of $100,000 school bills.  This has also become an appealing opportunity for students who have recently become unemployed and want to learn more about business for the fraction of the cost. 

Known as MBA Boot Camps in the past, Mini-MBAs have since found a new outlet for students who otherwise would not have the funds for an MBA.  These programs hold many valuable opportunities for students because they offer many students a peek inside the MBA world without committing themselves to the expense of a traditional MBA degree.  However, they walk away with the knowledge necessary to open their own business or make business deals with other companies.  Recently, people who have been laid off are looking to this degree to supplement their resume, using their severance packages to pay for the cost.

This quick program offers students the opportunity to gain an additional degree within a few weeks, which is incredibly appealing to the recently laid-off.  The days of the recently unemployed consist primarily of job-hunting (which becomes increasingly frustrating), and taking classes which supplement degrees is a more productive use of time and can earn many students a better job outlook for potential employers. 

While mini-MBAs have not been accepted by every part of the business community, they have provided many people the opportunity to gain a further education for only a fraction of the cost which in turn aids them in getting a better job.  Similar degrees will probably develop throughout different fields, as the economy slowly begins to resuscitate itself. 

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College Degrees You Probably Never Heard Of

College Degrees You Probably Never Heard Of

May 4, 2010

by:  Paul Hughes


Like many Americans during this past economic recession (some would argue that we’re still in a recession), I was laid off from my work of 10 years and found a hard time finding new employment. After three months of looking on various employment sites and local listings, submitting resumes nonstop, and following up with local firms I decided to better my chances by going back to college and finishing my degree that I had left on the table nine years ago.

Job description after job description showed the same requirement, “BA/BS degree required, MBA degree preferred…” I had all the other qualifications in the bag – management experience, forecast and data analysis, customer service excellence, track record of high sales performance, etc… It seems like the job market was interested in a candidate with a higher education degree background more so than experience. That’s the reality of the job market. I have been out of the job search arena for so long that I forgot how hard it was to get a foot in the door with both, new and established firms.

After focusing in on my interests and figuring out what I wanted to do when I graduate, I decided to declare Economic Geography and Political Science as my majors. I was fortunate enough to have encouraging academic advisors to guide me through the decision process; but I can only imagine how hard it is for someone without that moral support to have been in the workforce for so long and then having to figure out, “what am I qualified to do now?”

Along my search for a degree that sparks my interest, I found these other programs from various higher learning institutions that were interesting and definitely not your run of the mill degrees. Take a look at the following programs and see if those are something you would consider going back to school for. We would love to hear your thoughts about these programs, or maybe you have a unique degree of your own you would like to share.

Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Management – focusing on the technical nature of management with a combination of business programming.
Associates Degree in Green Data Center Management – developing think-tank consultants that can effectively convert data centers into green machines.
Bachelor of Arts / Science Degree in Sustainable Development – acknowledging that this is a growing issue and no longer just a grass reports attempt to help the environment.
Bachelor’s Degree in Ecological Restoration – assisting in the recovery of dysfunctional ecosystems in order to provide essential ecosystem goods and services that society depends on.
Bachelor’s Degree in Homeland Security – covers the development of the discipline and analysis of current issues, preparing students with the leadership knowledge and skills required for domestic and international security professions.
Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management – emphasizes planning and preparation for, response to, and recovery from disasters and events of various magnitude and impact.
Bachelor’s Degree in Information Assurance – emphasizes preparation of information systems security professionals, senior system managers and system administrators responsible for information systems and security of those systems.

Sources:
www.wifr.com, May 2010
www.fastcompany.com, September 2009
www.news.appstate.edu, June 2008
www.essm.tamu.edu
www.umuc.edu, April 2007

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7 Things to Consider When Choosing an MBA Program

7 Things to Consider When Choosing an MBA Program

July 22, 2010

If you are looking into an online MBA program, there are probably a lot of people placing an emphasis on what school you will attend (your parents, professors, and advisors, for starters).  However, you should stop for a moment before limiting yourself to the top tier schools.  Certainly they may offer you some advantages over the others, but narrowing your field of opportunities is almost never your best bet.  There are a lot of factors to consider before you choose an MBA program, so mull over the possibilities before you make a hard and fast decision.

  1. What are the advantages of a top school?  There are many reasons to choose one of the top business schools.  To begin with, it looks good on a résumé.  The sad fact is that people are geared towards brand recognition, so having the name “Harvard” on your application may just put you at the top of the list for hire.  In addition, many schools have programs that will help you get internships and even jobs.  Plus, your networking opportunities will probably be a lot better at a top school.
  2. What are the disadvantages of a top school?  Unfortunately, you’re not the only one who wants to attend the best universities.  There is stiff competition for admission to these programs.  They are also expensive and because scholarships are limited, you may have a lot harder time securing assistance for the outrageous price tag.  Plus, you need to be realistic.  Can you make enough money upon completion of the program to pay off your student loans?
  3. Is location an issue?  This is an important question to answer before you get accepted into a school on the other side of the continent.  Can you pay for school and living arrangements, or will it be more prudent to live with your parents while you attain your degree?  Or there may be other things holding you close to home.  In any case, you wouldn’t want to get accepted to the school of your dreams only to have to turn them down, so don’t waste the application fee if it’s not really an option.
  4. Is money an issue?  This seems pretty self-explanatory, and yet you hear stories on the news about people who are suing their alma mater because they graduated, couldn’t get a job, and are now facing crippling debt due to biting off more than they could chew.  Look at the big picture.  If you don’t think you can pay your student loans without earning a 6-figure salary out of the starting gate, maybe you should consider a less expensive program.
  5. What are your interests?  Your area of study could make a big difference in which school you choose to attend.  If you’re interested in art, for example, you wouldn’t want to apply to a school that specializes in technology.  So before you start sending in applications willy-nilly, think about what you want to focus on and find a school that fits the bill.
  6. What are your goals?  If you want to become a CEO of a Fortune 500 company, you may not choose the same school as someone whose ultimate goal is to own a local diner.  Ruminate on your ultimate career path before you choose a school so you don’t come out with a degree that is inadequate to suit your needs.
  7. What are your job prospects?  Many schools aide graduating students in the area of job placement, and while some have enough influence to place you with top companies around the country, most operate locally.  Each school may also have certain industries that they cater to.  So if you’re interested in a particular location or field of study, choose a school that boasts high job placement in those areas in order to ensure that you start working as soon as you throw your mortarboard.

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