Two Law Schools Offer Classes Leading to Alternative Employment Trajectories

The Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law and the American University’s Washington College of Law may be on the roster of schools to be sued by the alma mater crusher that’s been spearheading a very large set of law schools that allegedly falsely advertised high hopes for law grads, but nevertheless, both these programs are offering something a little extra for their students. Well aware that law firms are waning in their need for legal talent, Catholic University is offering a course that invited Bruno Bich, chairman of Bic, the maker of pens and razors, to teach as guest speaker about practicing law in corporate settings.

Bich is not a lawyer and only has a business background. Yet he is opening an alternate route for law grads to hire in with corporations who themselves are taking this option to avoid the high fees of working with law practices. For instance, Bic itself just hired such an in-house layer straight out of law school.

“The legal job market has been impacted in a very significant way,” said the dean of Catholic University’s law school, Veryl Miles. “Many business enterprises have decreased their reliance on outside counsel for legal services and brought more of their legal needs in-house, resulting in more opportunities in this area of practice. Educating students for the unique aspects of this practice will give them a leg up in this job market.”

Dean Paul Schiff Berman of George Washing University Law School is setting up similar courses for the 2013 fall semester, and it may become a new Law School standard.