Who are these guys

(and gals)?The Millennials Come to Law School

Anne EnquistSeattle University School of Law

Generational Theory

• “Society-wide peer group, born over a period roughly the length of passage from youth to adulthood (20-21 years) who collectively possess a common persona.”

• Caveat: What may be “true” for the group is not necessarily true for any individual in the group

• Gut-level value systems differ between generations

• People are products of their culture and the times

The Millennials• Who are these guys (and gals)?

Silent 1925-1942Boom 1943-1960X 1961-1981

Millennial 1982-2002

First wave millennials started college in 2000Second wave millennials started college in 2004-2005 or after

The Millennials

• The U.S.’s first 100 million person generation

• More numerous, affluent, ethnically diverseo 1 in 5 has an immigrant parento 1 in 10 has a non-citizen parent

• First generation raised to believe everyone should have high self-esteemo Highest self esteemo Buto Most depressed

• “the most wanted generation in history”

The Millennials

• The millennial persona’s 7 distinguishing traits*:

1. Special2. Sheltered3. Confident4. Team-oriented5. Achieving6. Pressured7. Conventional

* Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising, © 2000.

What forces shaped the millennial

generation?

• Parenting styleso Sense of entitlement

• High expectations • Extended adolescence—adulthood begins at

30• Technology • Think globally• More “stuff”

What forces shaped the millennial

generation?• The world they grew up in

o Columbine (teens)o Clinton-Lewinsky scandal (6th graders)o Enron, Kosovo war, Oklahoma City bombing, Princess

Diana’s death, OJ Simpson trial o Downsizingo Outsourcing

• Big dreams— “what are you passionate about?”o Celebrity, materialism, rock star culture

Defining “moments” of their

generation*o September 11, 2001• Reality television• Mobile phones and social networking• Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois U. mass

killings• YouTube• Recession of 2008• Wikipedia and mass collaboration• Election of President Obama

* Fred A. Bonner II, et al. Diverse Millennial Students in College, © 2011

Millennials and School

• High grade inflation despite lowering test scoreso 70% of college freshman report they are “above average” or

in “highest 10%”

• Cheating is commonplace o 2002 74% of high school and 80% of college students

admitted cheatingo 97% allowed someone to copy their work

• Teachers are facilitatorso Think of adults more like friends than authority figureso Professor’s comments on their work is “just their opinion”

• Strong need for structure in learning environment

Millennials and Employment

• Expect to start on top or move up quickly

• Don’t take criticism well

• Big gap between expectations and reality

Do you know the millennials?

1. True or false?Millennials trust and feel close to their parents.

•TRUE

Do you know the millennials?

2. As a group, are the millennials more go-it-alone or team-oriented?

•More team-oriented

Do you know the millennials?

3. As a group, did the millennials grow up more “at risk” or more “safe and sheltered”?

•Safe and sheltered

Do you know the millennials?

4. As a group, are the millennials more comfortable or less comfortable with

profanity than previous generations?

•More comfortable

Do you know the millennials?

5. As a group, do the millennials believe more strongly or less strongly than previous generations in personal responsibility and hard work?

•Less strongly

Do you know the millennials?

6. As a group, are the millennials more optimistic or more pessimistic?

•More optimistic

Do you know the millennials?

7. When it comes to dress and using first names or titles, are the millennials more formal or more informal?

More informal

Do you know the millennials?

8. True or false?As a group, millennials are service-

oriented and strong believers in social justice.

True

Do you know the millennials?

9. True or false?Most millennials do not want a mentor

and think having one is a waste of time.

False

Do you know the millennials?

10. Who are these guys (and gals) we call the millennials?

A. Young people determined to “make a difference”B. Young people who are taking out enormous

student loans to come to law schoolC. Young people who are paying the law school’s

bills, including our salariesD. All of the above

D. All of the above

Who are these guys (and gals)?

Our students!

Brief bibliography on millennials

• Fred A. Bonner II, et al. Diverse Millennial Students in College, © 2011.

• Neil Howe & William Strauss, Millennials Rising, © 2000.

• Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., Generation Me: Why Today’s Young Americans Are More Confident, Assertive, Entitled—and More Miserable Than Ever Before, © 2006.

• William Strauss & Neil Howe, The Fourth Turning, © 1997.

• Thom S. Rainer & Jess W. Rainer, The Millennials: Connecting to America’s Largest Generation, © 2011.