Wall Street Journal op-ed:  A Message to Aspiring Lawyers: Caveat Emptor
— Number of New Jobs Annually: 21,800. Number of Graduates: 44,000, by Chris Fletcher:

There is a crisis in law-school education, but don't expect the
institutions to tell potential applicants about it. In short, there are
far too many graduates for the number of jobs available, and the
majority of those who get jobs are not being paid nearly enough to
service their debt. …

I graduated in 2011 and am one of the "lucky" ones. Within six months
of graduation I secured a job in my area of interest, international
human rights. … In my case, although I found
employment, my finances are precarious. With $169,000 in law-school debt
and an annual salary of $55,000 (which is within the average range for a
small firm), I cannot start paying off my debt in a responsible and
timely manner, much less afford to have a wedding, start a family, buy a
home, etc. …

If this is my experience, then what
about the graduates who are relatively not as "lucky," those with
low-paying jobs not in their area of interest? Or those floating between
temporary jobs? Or worse, those like my law-school friend and other
similarly situated graduates who now rely on government assistance
because they cannot find a job and their debt is too crushing? …

One wishes that moral suasion would
prompt law schools to alter their ways—admitting fewer students, making
tuition less ruinous—but change is likely to come only through financial
pressure when enrollment drops significantly. That day may not be far
off. Given current conditions, prospective law-school students would be
wise to start off the new year with a resolution to think twice about
applying.

(Hat Tip: Grant Nelson.)