Schmidt’s opinion of the job market is in line with the findings of a recent employment survey of 2011 college graduates. The National Association for Law Placement reported 2011 national graduate employment rates are at their lowest level since 1994, with 85.6 percent of 2011 graduates reporting employment nine months after law school. Of that group, only 65.4 percent held positions requiring a passing score on the bar exam.

Assistant Dean for Career Development Elliot Spoon, who also is a professor of law, said MSU’s College of Law 2011 graduate employment rates are similar to the national standards.

Of the 2011 College of Law graduates, 283 people responded to an employment survey conducted by MSU. While 92 percent of the respondents reported having a salary, only about 53.7 percent had part-time or full-time jobs requiring the passage of the bar exam, according to a College of Law Career Services report. The mean salary of the graduates was $56,511, and MSU’s College of Law currently has an estimated total cost of $43,302 per academic year.

“While the overall data was more negative nationally, it was more positive for us,” Spoon said. “But that is in small degrees here, and we recognize things need to get better.”

Economics professor Charles Ballard said the overall economy has an effect on job rates in all sorts of occupations, and very few occupations, including careers in the law market, have been insulated from the general downturn.

“A possible (explanation) for what you see is that some folks may have decided that when they couldn’t find a job after college three years ago to go to law school,” Ballard said.

Although the economy is on the mend, Ballard said it still is competitive for those in the law market, and some law school graduates might end up turning to other careers to make a living.

To help find employment, Spoon said the College of Law pairs students with career advisers and promotes networking with alumni upon entrance to the program.

Still, Schmidt, said he understands it might be difficult to find a job in the law market right after graduating, and if he has to take a job doing something in business, he would be all right with that.

“It’s not like I’m an NFL player or an NBA player who has to get into my field by the time I’m 35,” he said.

“It is a long-term career that you can practice well into your 70s if you’re still able. I’m not one of those people who thinks if I don’t get a job now, I never will.”