University expansion and labor market: Consequences in the field of law

Abstract

The number of professionally-qualified graduates has increased considerably in recent years due to accelerated growth in higher education in Brazil. Aiming to understand the consequences of university expansion on law graduates, by means of 33 interviews with recent graduates and the analysis of secondary data, this article shows that the search for civil service examinations, the devaluation of the associate lawyer position in law firms, the occupation of new territories in the labor market, and working as a self-employed lawyer are common experiences. The increase in the number of accredited members interacts with the rules of a highly regulated field that increases professional competition, but also creates forms of professional admission considered unsatisfactory by the bachelors.