http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/05/05/lawyer-bubble/2127327/
The Great Recession affected most sectors of the U.S. economy and most professions.
For the legal profession, it had a profound affect. Steven J. Harper's book The Lawyer Bubble: A Profession in Crisis lays out just how profound the effects have been in his analysis of the problems facing law schools, big law firms and lawyers.
Affect is rarely used as noun and in most situations writers make a college level mistake (should be effect (noun)) instead. I wonder if affect is
used as noun, however rare it may be, it has a very different meaning, not similar to effect or some archaic usage? Thank you, Jun Miyamoto
Affect as a noun is listed in the Oxford English Dictionary with an example in 1398 AD. I normally quote snippets from the OED Online since most do not have an online subscription. But, affect as a noun has 7 different numbered meanings with each having several quotations and is too lengthy for me to consider as fair copying use. However, here is the
Etymology: < classical Latin affectusmental or emotional state or reaction (especially a temporary one), physical state or condition (especially a pathological one), influence or impression, permanent mental or moral disposition, eagerness, zeal, devotion, love, intention, purpose, in post-classical Latin also evil desire (Vulgate) < afficere affect v.2 + -tus , suffix forming verbal nouns. Compare Old French affect (12th cent.), affet (c1265) desire, passion, Middle French affect state, disposition (16th cent.). Compare affect v.1, affect v.2, and also affection n.1
In sense 5 after German Affekt (18th cent. in Kant in sense 5a; 1874 or earlier in sense 5b; 16th cent. in senses ‘strong emotion', ‘desire, inclination'; < Latin).With the forms effect , effecte compare discussion at effect n.
To my understanding, "For the legal profession, it had a profound affect" is wrong. "Affect" may be used as a noun but it is used as the way someone presents themselves. Often in psychological discussions.
It looks like a classic misuse. Better choices are effect, impact, influence.