There are a heckuva lot of people my age who have college degrees, they were really pushing it back when I was in high school. The vast majority of them don't use their degrees at all for their work.

My degree doesn't have much to do with my line of work, but I wouldn't have the job without a degree.

Abraham Lincoln did not get a law degree. He was self taught and "read for the law"--ultimately being admitted to the Illinois Bar. Who was better educated? I don't know and I am not sure what your point is.

Is it whether some self taught person can know the law better than a degreed lawyer? Sure. That person might pass the bar exam too.

In the unlikely event he/she gets a job, they would get some on the job training from experienced lawyers which is, in fact, much more valuable than law school.

Would I hire them to work for me? No way.

Would any of my clients hire that person to represent them? Not a chance.

Would I hire them as co-counsel in a case or on a transaction? Negative on this one too.

P.S. There are indeed some really bad lawyers that graduate from law school. Most of them go into politics and government work.

Just curious, BC..... if they were self-taught to the point they could pass the bar exam, WHY would you not give them a chance to see how they work out?

Fair question.

In full disclosure, I have seen Harvard law graduates who are not worth a darn as lawyers. Same with plenty top of their class University of Oklahoma graduates. A few of the best trial lawyers I know graduated in the bottom half of their law school classes.

But, law school is at least a measure of ability and future success. More importantly, you should learn things in law school other than how to pass the bar--writing and analytical skills are two of the big ones.

If I am to invest a lot of time, trust and money in a new lawyer, odds are they are in the top 15% of their law school class or have some really good reason for why they are not (like working to put themselves through school--I give a lot of grace on that because I did it).

Fair enough.

Personally, I would be intrigued by someone with the sort of dedication and self-discipline it would require to teach yourself enough to pass the bar. I would HAVE to give them a try. LOL.

No teachers' unions in NC. We have NCEA, but it is voluntary. Right to work state.

I understand, but hiring a new law school graduate is a big investment. You lose money on them for at least a year or two. You just lose less money on the really good ones.