Originally Posted by Val
In my experience (including observations of many others), it's harder to get a job when you have a Ph.D. This is because there are way more jobs for technicians and research assistants, etc. than there are for group-leader-type or other terminally degreed scientists.

I'll admit that I was thinking of patent law, where the heavier the credential, the better.

For example, see:

http://www.wkmclaughlin.com/JobRetrieve.aspx?spec=1&emp=2&TZ=0