Gridlock Sours Professions in Politics

A recent Chicago Tribune article analyzed the interest of law students looking to venture into political professions in Washington.  according to a recent Kaplan Test Prep report that surveyed 758 pre-law students to garner their interest in running for political office. The survey noted that 38 percent of respondents have an interest in politics after graduation--a notable decline from 2009, when 54 percent of pre-law students surveyed reported they were considering a political future.


Gridlock could be one of the major factors in this decline. Students claim to look for more promising careers, stating that little is getting done to create a more efficient Washington. With the concern of paying back student loans graduates are searching for jobs that offer higher pay with less negative consequences. In today's new era of politics students must be much more concerned with their image in running for a political office. Cleaning up their presence online is another deterring factor, which can easily be avoided by selecting a different career path. While there are issues surrounding the current culture of politics and the financial reality of supporting a public interest law career persist, there is still hope. Taking a look at the percentage margin after the 2012 elections will give us a better indication of the future of politics, leaving 2011's 16% decline as an outlier.