Law School Survey Reveals Discontent

A Crimson poll of Law School students last week revealed that over 50 per cent are dissatisfied with the quality of instruction at the Law School.

The poll, to which one-third of the school's student body responded, showed the highest rate of dissatisfaction among third-year students. Seventy-seven per cent said the quality of the instructors has not conformed to their expectations.

According to the poll, 62 per cent of the students plan to enter the most lucrative type of law practice, private practice with an established firm, at starting salaries of $22,000 to $25,000 per year. As one pollee said, "We're after the big bucks."

Only 15 per cent of those polled said they expect to pursue careers with public interest organizations, which characteristically pay lower salaries. Those who favored public interest jobs expect starting salaries from $8000 to $12,000 per year, eventually reaching salaries of $25,000.

In contrast, the students planning to enter private practice expect eventual salaries of $90,000 to $150,000.

Douglas Phelps, alternative careers administrator at the Law School, said yesterday only 2.6 per cent of the Class of '75 entered public interest law.