An Unexpected Surge in Law School Applications
To the surprise of many, law schools across the United States and Canada are experiencing a remarkable surge in applications. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC)—the people who make the dreaded LSAT—collects and publishes data on law school applications, which they also oversee. They’ve recently published their newest report on law school application data, and the results are unexpected. Let’s take a look.
Data Shows More Applications Everywhere
The data shows a 25.6% increase in the number of individuals applying to U.S. law schools compared to the previous year. Additionally, the total number of applications submitted to law schools has increased by 33.6%. This suggests that not only are more people applying to law schools, but those applicants are also submitting applications to more schools on average than they did in the previous year. This trend is mirrored in Canada, where the number of applicants has risen by 14.0% and the number of applications by 15.2%.
Regional trends within each country reveal significant variations. The “South Central region” of the U.S. (which the survey defines as including Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas) is experiencing the highest jump in applications at 43.5% (and a 25.9% increase in applicants). Those states were followed by the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska (41.4% more applications, 37.3% more applicants). Behind them were the far west states of California, Nevada, and Hawaii (31.2% more applications, 28.4% more applicants). In Canada, East Canada saw a notable increase in applications, outpacing the West.
Gender and Ethnicity Trends
Gender and ethnicity trends also highlight shifts in the applicant pool. In the U.S., both male and female applicants increased by almost the same amount, just over 25%. The increase in Canada was 12.2% for men and 15.3% for women. Gender-diverse applicants in the U.S. saw a modest increase of 2.3%, though they decreased by 9.2% in Canada. Applicants who did not indicate a gender increased by 34.7% in the U.S. and 22.1% in Canada.
The ethnicity trends for U.S. law school applicants show a significant increase in diversity, with notable rises across various ethnic groups. Black or African American applicants saw the most substantial increase, rising by 37.5% from 3,188 to 4,385 applicants. Similarly, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander applicants increased by 39.5%, from 124 to 173.
Hispanic/Latino applicants also experienced a significant boost, with a 30.6% increase from 4,015 to 5,242 applicants. Other ethnic groups, such as American Indian or Alaska Native and Asian applicants, also saw increases of 33.5% and 28.1%, respectively. Caucasian/White applicants increased by 23.6%, while the number of applicants who did not indicate their ethnicity rose by 26.0%. These trends reflect a growing diversity among law school applicants in the U.S.
Explaining the Pattern
The dramatic uptick in applications has been described as "unnatural" by industry experts, given that the demographic pool of college graduates remains unchanged. Mike Spivey, a school admissions consultant, attributes part of this increase to last year's delayed application cycle. This delay was prompted by law schools adjusting their admissions processes in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision barring race as a consideration in higher education admissions. Susan Krinsky, LSAC's interim president and CEO, cautions that early comparisons may overstate the growth, suggesting that the final increase in applicants could settle closer to 15%.
The LSAT, a critical component of law school admissions, has also seen changes in score distributions. In the U.S., the most significant increases were observed in the higher score ranges, while Canada reported a substantial rise in the 175-180 score bracket. The changes in the LSAT, including the removal of the "logic games" section, have influenced application timing, with some students rushing to take the test before the changes took effect.
Takeaways
Election years typically generate increased interest in law schools. This is thought to be because prospective students consider the impact they can have on policy shifts. Whatever the reason, this election year is no exception, as the data shows.
Despite the overall growth, a few U.S. law schools reported a decrease in application volume. However, the overwhelming majority of institutions, including all 18 Canadian law schools, have seen an uptick in interest. As the admissions season progresses, these trends underscore a growing interest in legal education, driven by a complex interplay of demographic shifts, policy changes, and evolving educational priorities.
Related Resources:
- Bar Exam Pass Rates Rise Nationwide (FindLaw's Practice of Law)
- Diversity Adversity for Florida Bar (FindLaw's Practice of Law)
- Georgetown Finally Allows Accommodation for Pregnant Law Student After Public Outcry (FindLaw's Practice of Law)
