Michael Berdan ‘22
Staff Editor
Not since 2008 has there been a buzz like this among the student body of UVA Law. As the Dow Jones Industrial Average plummets, spirits rise, particularly among the classes of 2021 and 2022, who are expected to graduate into the heart of an economic recession that is currently in its nascent stages.
Pictured: The stock market continues to descend, dragging boring, traditional job prospects down with it.
“It’s just thrilling,” says Kevin Shawsheq ’22, reached by Zoom in his Charlottesville apartment, where he has spent the past three weeks eating chicken nuggets and playing League of Legends. “I feel like the future is bright, and I’m really starting to find my niche.” Shawsheq is considering starting an E-Sports club at the Law School, hoping to enter tournaments to supplement his income after graduation. With large firms looking to consolidate their workforce, Shawsheq and many of his peers who had planned on doing corporate work are already brainstorming ideas for entrepreneurship. Shawsheq has started trying to get a feel for what it’s like to graduate during a recession. “I talked to an alum who graduated in 2008. When his BigLaw offer was pulled, he didn’t have all the options that are available now. E-Sports were barely getting off the ground, and there was no YouTube, no podcasting, no Taskrabbit. He got by, but we are set up to really thrive in this new economy.”
Some 1L’s are taking the opportunity of a recession to course-correct within the law into so-called “recession-proof” fields. “I came in wanting to be one of those do-gooders everyone talks about,” says Meaghan Jones ’22. “But after the experience of one long semester and seeing all the sweet swag in the Career Services office, I had turned to capital markets work. I had an in-house job lined up at the legal department of Goldman Sachs. But now, with those markets collapsing faster than a 3L’s GPA, I’m planning to go back to public defense. I feel much better about it. I feel, like, this warmth coming back into my heart. It’s really lovely.”
The Law School, ever forward-looking, has recently approved a proposal for a new Underemployment Law Clinic to give students practical experience in the fields they’re likely to enter after graduation. The clinic will connect students with local practitioners specializing in bankruptcy, divorce, fraud, and foreclosure work. “Our administration always looks out for us,” says Thomas Samuel ’20. “I only wish I was going to be around to participate in the clinic. Although, now that I think about it, I’ll probably end up being a client!” In fact, part of the clinic’s proposal was to cull potential clients from the alumni a few years down the road.
“While UVA alumni are equipped to succeed, some will inevitably struggle,” says Chad Lebnun ’10. “We want them to have the best possible representation when they do.” Lebnun is returning to Charlottesville to co-direct the clinic after 9 years in Albuquerque as an apprentice at the offices of Saul Goodman, Esq. Lebnun brings a wealth of experience in a wide variety of practices, and is excited to give back to the UVA Law community. He eagerly tells the graduating class of 2020, “If you have trouble in the future, you’d better call… us!”
While this new chapter in UVA Law history brings many thrilling developments and opportunities, not all students are optimistic about the changes. Some students are disappointed that there are so many more options available now, instead of just BigLaw. “I just don’t know what to think,” laments Britney Stiles ’21 “Before, I knew where I was headed. An immorally large salary, soul-deadening corporate work, seventy to a hundred hours a week, loneliness, depression, meaningless drudgery–the American Dream! It was all lined up! But now? Where do I go from here? There are so many options, like, Career Services doesn’t even have a pathway PDF for this situation yet.[1] It’s the Wild West.”
Holly Loman ‘22 and Chris Penne ‘22 were planning on moving in together after this year, but they aren’t so sure, given the economic crisis. “Financial stress can be really hard on a new relationship,” worries Penne. “It seems like such a… gamble to take this step when the world is so uncertain. I’m really risk-averse, so I might have my mom move in with me instead.” Loman is considering going back to her home state of Louisiana: “Online classes have been great, so maybe I’ll telecommute. Do law school online, keep up with my relationship with Chris online, Zoom chats with friends… I’ll never have to leave the bayou again!”
North Grounds remain empty, but the Law ‘Hoos are clearly full of ideas and optimism, ready to handle whatever the recession brings.
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mwb4pk@virginia.edu
[1] Note: I checked into this, and Ms. Stiles is right. The Office of Private Practice has replaced all their career pathway documents with links to the Financial Services website and Indeed.com.