This generation of law students may be saddled with debt but they are blessed with opportunity. They're looking at a wide range of career options, from emerging areas such as climate change or international arbitration, to alternative practices in fields such as entertainment or public interest law - or even working outside the legal profession altogether.
As editor of a law student newspaper, third-year student Rob Wakulat says he sees the pressure his peers face because of high tuition fees. The University of Toronto’s law school is the most expensive in Canada, at about $18,000 a year.
As editor of a law student newspaper, third-year student Rob Wakulat says he sees the pressure his peers face because of high tuition fees. The University of Toronto’s law school is the most expensive in Canada, at about $18,000 a year.
More Law Schools Reports
"Students are exploring options and asking lots of questions, even before making the decision to attend law school," says Jennifer Moroskat, career development officer at the University of Victoria's Faculty of Law.
"They are looking beyond what they can do after graduation, and at opportunities after they have worked in a law firm for a few years. A lot of students ask me, 'What else can I do with my law degree?' Today the careers that are available to law graduates are so diverse."
So diverse, in fact, that campus career offices offer workshops such as UVic's "UnCommon Law Day," exploring alternatives to traditional legal practice - such as working as sports agents, scriptwriters or on international aid projects. Even those destined for large law firms aren't necessarily committed to staying in such jobs throughout their careers.
Casey Leggett, 28, is currently articling at the Montreal office of Ogilvy Renault LLP where he will do three rotations in different practice areas of the firm. He sees the current generation of law students as one seeking greater balance between work and lifestyle.
"Even those who choose big firms still want to be fulfilled as much as possible through their employment," Mr. Leggett says. "They understand that they won't find all their fulfilment in work, so more students are asking questions about options for pro bono work, and [whether] the firm is interested in emerging issues. Students realize they are in demand, and they are asking questions."
Mr. Leggett adds that there's a "lack of understanding by students of what goes on in big law firms." In his own case at Ogilvy Renault, he says he has had the opportunity to continue pro bono community legal work that is important to him. And the firm had no objection when he asked to take time off to travel after the bar before starting his articling work. "What they told me is true," he says. "The flexibility definitely exists."
Stephen Kelly is a partner in corporate law at Ogilvy Renault's Montreal office. As chairman of the firm's student committee, he is in charge of recruitment.
"We are looking for the full package," he says. "That includes the traditional stuff - strong on the academic front, quick-thinker - but also life skills and entrepreneurship. In the competitive market we work in, we are looking for good lawyers but also good instincts for law as a business."
At Borden Ladner Gervais LLP, students experience four rotations during their 10-month articling stint. The firm has two departments (business and litigation) with six practice groups in each, so there's lots of choice, something today's students look for when choosing a firm.
Halla Elias is director of professional recruitment for the firm's Toronto office. Like her counterparts in other firms, she works with all three parties in the hiring process - the school career offices, the students, and her own colleagues.
As for what her firm looks for when hiring students, she says: "We are looking to hire for the future. We're looking to make a long-term investment. We want to develop our students into associates."
Third-year University of Toronto law student Rob Wakulat will be articling at Borden Ladner Gervais. And while he shares his generation's interest in exploring his career options, one thing he doesn't share is the debt burden that many students carry after graduation.
"I'm one of the fortunate ones," the 30-year-old says. "I got a lot of support from my family, so debt is not an issue for me."
But as editor of a law student newspaper, Ultra Vires, Mr. Wakulat says he sees the pressure students face because of tuition fees. UofT's law school is the most expensive in Canada, at about $18,000 a year for tuition and fees (not including books, materials and living expenses).
"We sent a survey to 515 law students at University of Toronto and got 229 responses. Of those, 43 per cent said that their professional choices will be affected by debt and 17 per cent indicated they will have debt of $90,000 or more after graduation," Mr. Wakulat says.
While the student paper's survey isn't a scientific one, Lianne Krakauer, assistant dean for career services at UofT's Faculty of Law, acknowledges that the high cost of schooling is gaining more attention from universities and the law profession itself.
"It is accepted that there will be debt," says Ms. Krakauer. "The question now is, 'Will I be able to pay off my debt? Will it constrain me [in terms of career choices]?' "
To help ease the debt loads, there are more tuition assistance and debt reduction programs. In addition, articling and starting salaries are substantial at large firms in major centres. "Students will say they're not going to be able to afford to work in government," Ms. Krakauer says. "They don't know that government salaries and articling rates are very good."
One emerging trend for Canadian law students is greater opportunity to work in the lucrative New York market. With no articling year and starting salaries close to $200,000, more students are leaving for such positions and more U.S. firms are recruiting on Canadian campuses.
Chantal Morton is director of career services at York University's Osgoode Hall Law School, which costs $14,000 a year for tuition and fees. She says debt has "multiple impacts" on students. "Some will apply to Bay Street because of debt load, but some will still go to other choices. It depends on how students perceive debt."
As for whether economic uncertainty is affecting student recruitment, campus advisers say they aren't seeing lower numbers.
"But it's definitely something we're watching," says UofT's Ms. Krakauer.
"Short-term business cycles do not affect our hiring practices," says Mr. Kelly of Ogilvy Renault.
"We will not increase or reduce our recruitment class as a result of short-term concerns. The driver for us remains that we want the highest-quality students."
