The Chicago Trib recently did a thought provoking piece on the disparities in legal salaries, the realism of compensation for modern attorneys and what it all means to the future of the field.

Of course we all know the numbers, new associates private practice ~ $160k…. Public Defenders ~ $welfare, but upon entering law school did you expect a majority of your legal peers to be struggling and some even working second jobs serving drinks to pay off Mr. Stafford? I sure didn’t. This article makes me want to think of ways we can change this trend, and a back up profession.

I mean if you think about it, law students aren’t too unlike college athletes. We’ve had a great run, high achieving careers, few disappointments. For many of us not being in the top 10% causes panic attacks, and law school gives that experience to an overwhelming 90% of us. If we’re not in that elusive top whatever percent we don’t even get to be in the NFL/NBA/LPGA…. draft! (~competitively interview for jobs)

Many law schools seem to have great outlets for allowing the prospective lower earning demographic of our peers to retain some sanity after choosing or falling into a lower paying position. These kinds of programs (Equal Justice Foundation / loan repayment assistance) were not mentioned in the article. I’m curious if the omission indicates whether they have any true redeeming effect or if they are just feel good programs that only help a small minority.

The article points out that this trend of disparity has been an underlying problem in the job market as a whole. The rich are getting richer and the poor poorer, hence the end of the middle class that provided the realization of the American Dream for not only successful educated Americans but also for those hard working individuals that may not have had the opportunities of their peers. Today CEO/Big Firm Partner salaries are exorbitant while millions of Americans are working minimum wage at Walmart struggling to put food on the table (see: Nickel and Dimed By Barbara Ehrenreich). What happens when high achieving people like law grads become included in the such a disparity? The article seems to suggest, besides stark disappointment and whining, a fundamental breakdown in the quality of legal services.

While the Trib promotes many theories for the general disparity, the real problem seems to be Inaction and what I call “disresponsibility” - - the attitude that it’s not my problem. This nation has seen enough of it, from global warming, to putting up with a war, to a falling out of the middle class - now leading to a shortfall in legal services. Our generation has to stand up and take responsibility, a continuing responsibility to make up for the lack of maintenance to societal necessaries by the previous generation. When you graduate will you leave your legal peers behind?