<p>Employment is a concern during even the first year of law school, since 1Ls start focusing on the job search for their 1L summer during the spring semester, and how a 1L summer turns out can impact the 2L summer (and thus post-graduate employment statistics).</p>
<p>The facts are clear. Over 75% of 1Ls at HLS took time off- in most cases, to work- between college and law school. Thus time off, and what someone did with it, is something that the HLS admissions committee just has at least give more than a fleeting thought to.</p>
<p>In addition, with a harder job market for lawyers, it makes sense that law schools would focus more on work experience, since someone with work experience has a stronger resume (and better interviewing skills and more of an idea as to what the person wants in a job) than someone who went straight through from college. HLS isn’t dumb; they know this and that’s why the school proclaims that it’s now a new focus for it.</p>
<p>Again, I am not speaking for other law schools–just HLS.</p>