The number of new graduates from law schools have been exceeding the number of new employment prospects available to lawyers for a number of years. This suggests that the COPS forecast may be too optimistic and that graduates are using their education in other occupational areas. Grades at law school can be a strong factor in determining a graduate's chances of obtaining an articling position. Individuals with superior academic records from highly regarded law schools usually enjoy excellent articling opportunities. Other graduates have to be prepared to encounter stiff competition in the process of obtaining their first opportunity for professional experience.
Competition is strong for articling student positions in the Lower Mainland.
There is also strong competition in the Lower Mainland for work after articling is completed. Lawyers in private practice have been struggling to attract enough business to maintain expected income levels and, in some cases, to keep their practices afloat. The legal aid case work for government that some private practitioners perform has been handled increasingly by government staff lawyers, whose salaries are not very high by industry standards. Many individuals with law degrees work in areas of law that are outside their areas of interest or for which they may feel they are overqualified. Some set up their own law practices earlier in their careers than they would consider to be ideal.