Disclaimer

I know this isn’t revolutionary and has been discussed before, but I don’t find any of the arguments against it compelling. I’m further aware that something like this won’t happen in the next thirty years. Cut me some slack and humor me.

Theory

If you are of a certain level of intelligence, once you have Lexis/West training, you are ready to begin practicing law.

Proposal

Bring back apprenticeship programs. Regulate and formalize them so that prospective lawyers apply directly to law firms, instead of law schools.. Vault 20 firms would be like the t14. Small firms and solo-practitioners would be the new TTTs.

LSAT

The LSAT survives and is still a determining factor in your acceptance to each firm.

Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship lasts 12 months; the apprentice pays tuition to the firm. The firm evaluates you and, if you perform at an acceptable level, offers you a job. The ABA requires an 80% offer rate to remain an accredited apprenticeship firm.

ABA

The ABA will accredit and monitor the apprenticeship programs. Small firms would be monitored like home schools.

Bar Exams

Unchanged, it’s not like you learn this material in law school.

Discussion

First, this system makes great strides in correcting the legal market oversaturation problem. With the law schools/middlemen cut out, every apprentice would know exactly where they stand regarding their post-apprenticeship jobs. Firms, knowing that they have to give job offers to almost all of their apprentices, will not bring in more than they need.

Second, law school is retarded. Taking broad classes and learning of the various restatements of law has very little practical value. Lawyers research, write, and argue. I will receive relatively little practice in these areas during my three years at HLS.

Third, it’s practically impossible to flunk out of a top 50 law school. You can learn nothing, get perfectly competitive grades, and walk out with a JD. I’ve barely gone to class this semester and I have exams in two weeks. I’m reviewing outlines right now and I’m going to do fine. By Christmas, I will not remember a single concept from this semester.

Fourth, no more insane tuition bills. Law school is overpriced. Nine-months after I graduate, my ~$200,000 in loans will be growing at more than $1400 per month. I nearly vomit every time I think about it. Under the apprenticeship model, you pay the firm $20k for your year of training. I arrived at this number after discussing this idea with a partner at a V20. He thinks it would cost large firms about that much to train each apprentice. Max loans would come out to ~$40k.

Fifth, this substantially reduces recruiting costs and will lower turnover. Law firms save money and (hopefully) will use these savings to hire more associates.

Address my stupidity in the comments please.

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