New Law Grads Compete with Experienced Associates for Jobs

This headline from the Las Vegas Sun comes as no surprise to recent law grads, "Law School Graduates Face Flooded Job Market."    The Nevada State Bar surveyed new attorneys who have been practicing  for fewer than five years and found that base salaries have dropped dramatically since 2007 when new attorneys there were reporting that they made between $90,000 and $95,000.  Now, the survey reports that new lawyers are typically making between $80,000 and $85,000.  That, of course, is for those who are able to find a position. The Sun quotes Ryan Works of the bar's young lawyers section, "The folks who were coming in 2009 and 2010 to get employment were simply stonewalled."  He added, "Now that things have leveled off in terms of the economy, people are starting to rehire. I don't think we will see the rapid, wild growth in hiring that we saw three or four years ago when people were taking on many associates and a bunch of different litigation lawyers."  There are certain practice areas that are seeing greater demand.  Bankruptcy attorneys are much sought after currently.

The toughest hurdle for new law grads is that they are competing with associates who have several years of experience.  Firms are looking for lawyers who can hit the ground running, and can pay less than new associates were getting to start four years ago.  Works explains, "We're not seeing the first-year salaries that lawyers saw coming through the door three, four, five years ago," he said. "The folks who are employed at this time are lucky to have employment at all."

On the positive side, the survey notes that firms in that region are beginning to hire again after the recession-induced drop off in business that led to a period of layoffs and downsizings.

Source:

Las Vegas Sun