Northwestern, Loyola law schools eye cutting class size

Crain's Chicago Business reports:

Northwestern University's law school, one of the top programs in the country, is considering shrinking its class size because of the continuing job crisis in the legal industry.

Although there is no timetable for a decision, law school Dean Daniel Rodriguez says he is “taking a very close look at (whether) we are the right size for the education program we have.” The school graduated 300 students with juris doctorates this year.

Loyola University Chicago, which just graduated 274 J.D. students, is also examining the idea of “a modest shrink” to its size, says David Yellen, dean of its law school.

Enrolling fewer students is just one step that Chicago's law schools are mulling to combat the problem of too many law graduates and not enough jobs. Illinois Institute of Technology's Chicago-Kent College of Law wants to launch an incubator this fall to help graduates learn how to start a solo practice. It has also added programs in niches where it anticipates job growth, such as compliance law. Loyola has been pairing students with mentors and bringing in speakers to talk about jobs outside a law firm. And nearly every school has increased its networking efforts, pressing faculty and advisory board members to promote their students.

A higher education bubble update. Maybe the people who run law schools should read this book when it comes out.