El mercado de los abogados y las abogadas. Evolución de titulados y tituladas en Chile 2009-2019

José Julio León Reyes; Pablo Sebastián Sandoval Vilches

doi:10.5354/0719-5885.2021.61592

The Market of Lawyers in Chile. Evolution of graduates 2009-2019

Authors

José Julio León Reyes Universidad Santo Tomás https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9838-6938
Pablo Sebastián Sandoval Vilches Universidad Santo Tomás https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7586-8400

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Abstract

This article reports on retention, graduation rates and actual length of studies in Chilean law schools over the last decade (2009-2019). For these purposes, we use the data provided by Chilean Education Ministry. Said variables are understood as indicators of the “effectiveness” of universities in fulfilling their social function. The analysis of the Chilean case provides important insights for the field of higher education studies for several reasons. Among them it is possible to highlight three. First, the higher education system in Chile is characterized by a high level of enrollment at private insti- tutions, as well as a high proportion of private expenditure versus total expenditure on higher education, wich are more significant in Chile than in other OECD countries. Secondly, the higher education system in Chile has witnessed a voracious expansion in the last three decades. Thirdly, new legislation (law 21.091), which strengthens the National Quality Assurance System, imposes new requirements on universities. The discussion of the performance of Law schools is particularly relevant. In short, through the study of law schools it is possible to highlight some of the market failures that affect universities in the country. On the one hand, law schools captured the lion’s share of new students in 2020, and law is the second career with most students in the country. On the other, law is one of the field of studies with the lowest graduation rates, with 23% of 8-year graduation rate.

Author Biographies

José Julio León Reyes, Universidad Santo Tomás

José Julio León Reyes holds a PhD in Higher Education Studies from the University of Leiden - Universidad Diego Portales, and a Master's degree in Legal Argumentation from the University of Alicante, as well as being a lawyer. He is Vice Rector of Development and Quality Assurance and full professor of the Faculty of Law at Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile.

E-mail: jleonre@santotomas.cl

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9838-6938.

Pablo Sebastián Sandoval Vilches, Universidad Santo Tomás

Pablo Sandoval Vilches holds a master's degree in Applied Statistics from the National University of Córdoba and is a sociologist. He is a research analyst at the Vice Rector's Office for Development and Quality Assurance of Universidad Santo Tomás, Chile.

E-mail: psandovalv@santotomas.cl

https:// orcid.org/0000-0001-7586-8400.