"It's more negative than positive, much more reflective of profession and economic security than a firm interest in the law," Weisberg says.

Some students headed for law school see it as the only "respectable' alternative to going medical school and becoming a doctor.

Others simply consider it the best path to job security, especially in times of recession and diminishing job markets. Attending law school, they say, is both practical and safe.

"I think [law] is a safe field," says Antoinette M. Sequeira '92. "You know when you graduate you can do something with your degree."

A law degree, many students believe, offers career flexibility, Law school represents a lowrisk, high yield investment.

"I see [a law degree] as a way to do basically whatever I want to do," says Sequeira, who will attend Harvard law next fall.

Other students echo Sequeira's comments,arguing that a law degree can lead to success inalternative fields such as business and politics.

But several law school students and graduatessay the belief that a law degree offersflexibility is a perfect example of how youngpeople heading towards law many have made thedecision based on hearsay and popular myths.

"People who enter the law don't really knowwhat they're getting into" says Stanford'sWeisberg "I don't think the increase in lawstudents represents a well-thought out commitmentto law."

"There's this idea that you can keep youroptions open if you go to law school.. [but] thismove to keep options open actually closes them,"says Kahlenberg, a 1989 graduate of the LawSchool.

Lisa J. Schkolnick '88, who graduates fromHarvard Law today, repeats one of Kahlenberg'spoints; Law school tuition debts closes doors forthe graduate.

"Going to law school only serves to get onedeeply in debt," she says. Schkolnik says thesedebts often total $70,000 or more, and practicallyforce students to take high-paying jobs in lawfirms.

"The flexibility argument is not even a myth,it's a fallacy," says Heidi Reavis, a lawyerpracticing in New York.

Students and graduates also agree that lawschools have an undeniable track record ofderailing students who enrolled hoping to enterpublic-interest law.

Many incoming law students believe they canbuck the trend, but the figures show that fewactually do.