Those considering attending law school hear a constant refrain: job prospects for law graduates are not strong enough to justify the cost of a legal education.

Yet a recent controversial study, “The Economic Value of a Law Degree,” by Michael Simkovic of Seton Hall University School of Law and Frank McIntyre of Rutgers Business School in New Brunswick, shows that a law degree in the current market is worth 60 percent more than a typical college degree — up to $1 million more.