I have known temporary staff attorneys at large prestigious firms who were paid by the hour to read documents and summarize them for the case team. It’s not a junior associate’s income or career, but it’s a good living for even the most semi-committed and minimally experienced lawyers.

It might be a good living if you didn't have to take out $300,000 in loans. But if you were planning for a life in biglaw, which would enable you to pay off your loans in 3-4 years, a seemingly-good salary of $120k could double your payback period. Throw in a little unemployment (the market isn't so good for staff attorneys) and things look even worse.