This book is a tight and fresh analysis of the American legal profession and its significance to society and its citizens. The book’s primary objective is to expose, and correct, the principal misconceptions - myths - surrounding prelaw study, law school admission, law school, and the American legal profession itself. These issues are vitally important to prelaw advisors and instructors in light of the difficult problems caused by the Great Recessions of 2008 and 2020-2021 and the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Aimed equally at prelaw advisors and potential law students, this book can be used as a supplement in the interdisciplinary undergraduate law-related instructional market, including courses that cater to majors/minors in political science and criminal justice in particular. It can also be used in career counselling, internships, and the extensive paralegal program market.

New to the Second Edition

• Expanded coverage to include paralegal and legal assistant training


• New material on women and minority law students who are transforming law schools and the profession


• Explores challenges to the legal profession posed by economic recession, COVID-19, high tuition rates, exploding student loan debt, internet technological advances, and global competitive pressures, including legal outsourcing and DIY legal services


• Updated data and tables along with all underlying research