May 2013

Subject to the usual revision, statistics show a small decrease in jobs in May. Year over year, the increase was 7,800; 14,200 over May 2011 and 16,200 over May 2010. The industry grew, or at least didn't shrink, at an average annual rate of about 0.5% over the last three years.

Basically, if you graduated law school in this era then statistically you're now doing something non-law-related while your student debt follows you around. Here's an example, who was once noted in Big Debt, Small Law after he showed up here. I encourage you lemmings (Hi!, Mr. Infinity) to get yourself quoted frequently in the media so I'll have lots of future Where Are They Now material to work with.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t17.htm

Not seasonally adjusted	May	2012	1,118,000
	March	2013	1,123,100
	April	2013	1,125,900
	May	2013	1,127,600	9,600
Seasonally adjusted	May	2012	1,121,500
	March	2013	1,128,200
	April	2013	1,129,800
	May	2013	1,129,300	7,800
Change from Apr-13 to May-13				-500

All those lemmings have to be going somewhere

BLS just released employment statistics. The legal services industry shrank by 2,700 jobs between May 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile, another 44,000 lemmings graduated.

AmLaw Daily speculates some will find jobs ... with onshoring firms. I'm posting about two recent NY Times articles one of these days, but the gist is that most openings require experience.

You 0Ls and 1Ls ought to cut your losses and bail. As for upperclassmen, you're going to have a latte competition. Enjoy IBR.

P.S.: The BLS has previously revised law employment downward after reviewing figures, and there's no guarantee May 2011 won't end up even worse than reported.

http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htm

Not seasonally adjusted	May	2010	1,109,500
	Mar	2011	1,108,000
	Apr	2011	1,106,700
	May	2011	1,106,600	-2,900
Seasonally adjusted	May	2010	1,113,100
	Mar	2011	1,112,100
	Apr	2011	1,111,400
	May	2011	1,110,400	-2,700
	Change from:	Apr 2011-May 2011	-1,000