Although I usually do not like to comment on reviews written by other people, there are a few things written about this book that I believe are unfair to the author. First of all, yes some of the salary numbers and hiring numbers are out of date - this is to be expected when these numbers change yearly. That information is easily found on the internet. Second, please do not let people's political agendas distract you from a wonderful resource. The DOJ is still a great place to work in terms of legal jobs - any lawyer who wants a job where they only take on cases they fully support will probably be disappointed in the profession. Next, Ms. Walton made a strong effort to find firms all around the country to profile - she explicitly says that she could not find many NYC firms that fit her criteria (and to the person who complained about the ethics of Texas firms - you might want to check out the ethics of NYC firms!). Finally, Ms. Walton's point about the foreign service is not that it is the "best job" for lawyers wanting to work internationally, but rather one that many law students don't consider. She specifically recognizes the fact that American law students can work outside the U.S. in law firms, but mentions the Foreign Service as another excellent option (and it is absolutely true that many students who say they want to practice "international law" discover that they don't really like "international business law" in a firm). Finally, having worked at CEELI just two summers ago, I can verify that their expansion into nations other than Eastern Europe and the NIS states is very recent and therefore could not have been published in the book when it went to press. Again, the book was meant to be used as a resource and jumping-off point, and updated information can easily be found on the internet.

I highly recommend this book to anyone thinking of entering law school, in law school, or practicing law. It is an excellent career resource and may open your eyes to possibilities you did not realize were out there.

21 of 25 found the following review helpful:


A comprehensive reference source for JD's in the marketplace  Nov 04, 1998
As a former librarian and book editor, and now as a lawyer and law school administrator, I was immediately impressed with the organization and comprehensiveness of this book. It is an invaluable tool for anyone with, or earning, a law degree, both within as well as outside the legal job marketplace. Loaded with information, wisdom, and references to other sources, it provides honest insights served up with an insider's style and wit. Thank you Ms. Walton!

19 of 24 found the following review helpful:


The View From a West Coast Litigator  Feb 26, 2004 By Ian Wilkins
I agree with the reviewer from Il. who criticized the book as out of date and not helpful. There definitely is a middle America bias to the book. It is not for someone who seriously wants to explore 'radical' public interest careers, for example. It is also not, like Aron's classic book, about a wide variety of things one can do with a law degree besides practicing law. Sure, there are some examples, but not many. There is regionalism all over the country, as the other reviewer pointed out, not just in the South. (His example.) In California, for example, California schools--even those that are not high pedigree--win out over higher ranked schools from other areas of the country besides legal employers tend to choose people whom they can identify with in terms of education and other things. Ms. Walton's book might have been more helpful if she had ever practiced law besides in the capacity of a summer associate. Asking "adminitrators" for data is a good start, but they often can't advise in terms of firm politics etc.

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