Opinion Articles
The Curse of the Golden Handcuffs: The Case for Reform in Tuition and Licensing Requirements for Lawyers in the U.S.
Author:
Adrienne Harrison
Amsterdam Law Forum, NL
About Adrienne
Adrienne Harrison, Esq. is a dually licensed U.S. attorney and Editor. For more information, please refer to the Editorial Team in the “About” section of
www.amsterdamlawforum.org.
Abstract
This article discusses the shortfalls of pursuing a law degree (and, subsequently, a license to practice law) in the United States. While “golden handcuffs” generally refer to the policy of providing high pay and incentives to employees in order to deter them from leaving a company, this article submits that law school graduates face another kind of golden handcuff – investing time and money to complete the seemingly prestigious Juris Doctor degree only to be placed in the unfortunate position of not having many options to recoup the investment in the current economic crisis, or, for those fortunate enough to land a high-paying position, being shackled to the job for 80 plus hours a week for years at a time.
How to Cite:
Harrison, A., 2010. The Curse of the Golden Handcuffs: The Case for Reform in Tuition and Licensing Requirements for Lawyers in the U.S.. Amsterdam Law Forum, 2(3), pp.33–42. DOI: http://doi.org/10.37974/ALF.135
Published on
19 Jul 2010.
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