Many students entering their final year at top law schools including Harvard and New York University haven’t landed the full-time jobs they would normally have claimed by now, firms and school officials said, a reflection of the shrinking demand for legal services.

The stark reality of the legal marketplace was illustrated by yesterday’s 2010 job offers by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, the highest-grossing U.S. law firm. It projected a 50 percent cut in summer hiring, said Howard Ellin, the recruiting partner for Skadden. The firm hired 225 students this summer and plans to hire less than half that for summer 2010.

The number of first-round interviews for second- and third- year Harvard Law School students fell 20 percent this year, Mark Weber, assistant dean for career services, wrote in an e-mail, adding that it’s too early to predict how many will get second interviews. At NYU, interviews plunged this school year compared with last, with callbacks for second interviews dropping “dramatically,” said Irene Dorzback, dean of career services.

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Harvard, NYU Law Students Left Hanging as Firms Slash Offers - Bloomberg.com

Traditionally Hire

A law degree typically takes three years to obtain. Law firms traditionally hire students for summer internships after their second year of school, then offer them jobs beginning after graduation the following year. Large U.S. firms are delaying start dates for 2009 and 2010 graduates, and hiring fewer students for next summer and beyond.

The job crunch is likely to affect the class of 2011 as well, said James Leipold, executive director of the Association for Legal Career Professionals.