Prof: Some May Balk at Their Tone, But 'Scambloggers' Put National Spotlight on Problems in Legal Ed
“Scambloggers,” a term used to describe people whose writing focuses on the allegedly misleading way that law schools market themselves to potential law students, plays an important part in the profession’s evolution, according to a recent article in the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology.
Lucille Jewel, an associate professor at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, writes that scambloggers, who she characterizes in her article as a populist online community calling for reform” raise legitimate questions about the system, and they’ve reached a broad audience, thanks to the Internet.
“Most law schools continue to spin this story of, ‘Come to law school. Sure, you’ll take out loans, but it will all be worth it in the end when you enter this noble profession,’ ” Jewel told the National Law Journal. “But here you have a large percentage of recent graduates who are disgruntled and questioning the value of their law degree.”
Her article, “You’re Doing It Wrong: How the Anti-Law School Scam Blogging Movement Can Shape the Legal Profession” (PDF), Jewel cedes some points to scambloggers: “Arguably, a certain level of hypocrisy is present as legal education professionals benefit from marketing campaigns that sell the idea of a law degree as a solid investment that will lead to a stable and comfortable career-path, when the actual numbers show that the sales pitch is just that—a pitch. Moreover, even if one disagrees with the underlying merits of their argument, as detailed below, the scambloggers have shown an impressive ability to get their message to a mass audience.”
The article mentions blogs like third tier reality, which features graphics showing overflowing toilets, and Temporary Attorney, which posts stories about terrible job experiences. Their arguments should not be dismissed simply because of their crudeness, according to Jewel.
“Despite its nontraditional approach, the scamblogging movement has had a palpable effect on the debate of an important issue facing the legal profession,” she wrote.
Related coverage:
ABA Journal (February 2011): “Law School? Bag It, Bloggers Say”
ABA Journal Podcast: “Are Scambloggers Right About Law School?”
