Law school applications for the 2025 school year are up roughly 21% from last year, according to the data from the Law School Admissions Council.
Aaron Taylor, SVP and executive director at nonprofit AccessLex Institute, shares his thoughts on the law school applications surge, including what factors are impacting applicant interest and how this competitive applicant cycle will impact schools and the legal industry.
What factors have led to the surge in law school applications?
TAYLOR: I suspect the main drivers of the surge are the historically good jobs numbers that the National Association of Law Placement (NALP) has been reporting for the past five years or so. New law graduates have been employed in record proportions, with median salaries that have broken records as well. These numbers have affirmed the “investment” value of legal education. Another possible factor is the fraught political and social climate and the related attacks on the rule of law. Lawyers in every jurisdiction take an oath to defend the Constitution. Therefore, the immense threats we face could prompt many to seek a law degree to position themselves at the forefront of the fight for our democracy.
What does the latest National Association of Law Placement employment data for the Class of 2023 show? Any other NALP data indicating possible reasons for surge?
TAYLOR: NALP’s most recent report documented “incredible outcomes” for the Class of 2023 law graduates. The employment rate was about 93%, the highest on record. The proportion of graduates working in jobs that require a law license — considered the most attractive — was also the highest ever (82%). Salary figures broke records as well, with a median of $90,000. For most law students, attending law school is an investment. When the odds of a reasonable, if not lucrative, payoff seem high — as they do now — applications rise.
Does the surge indicate a competitive admissions cycle? If so, how can prelaw students adjust to the competitive environment for admissions?
TAYLOR: The surge certainly suggests a more competitive admission cycle. The intensity of the cycle will be influenced by the extent that law schools increase class sizes in response to the increased demand. If the number of available seats remains relatively flat, the competition for admission and scholarships will be noticeably more intense than in the recent past. In this climate, aspiring law students should do what they always should do: put forth their best application materials as early in the admission cycle as possible.
What does the surge mean for law schools?
TAYLOR: Most law schools are experiencing double-digit proportional increases in applications. This is a highly favorable trend for them, providing schools with the latitude to be more selective or to increase class size. Or both.
What are your thoughts on the surge and what do prelaw students need to know?
TAYLOR: I am heartened by the increased interest in the law degree, particularly among those who are motivated by desire to protect our democracy. But I harbor a measure of concern as well. The historically good employment numbers that I believe are the primary drivers of the increased interest are largely irrelevant to people seeking admission today. These applicants will not enter the job market for another three to four years. Much can change with the economy and our society during that time.
If law schools increase class sizes to meet the demand and then the job market contracts, we will end up with more graduates than the market can absorb. There are already concerning signs. Law firms recently cut their summer associate hiring to its lowest level in over a decade. One of the reasons was what NALP called “uncertain demand” for legal services. This trend may be a bellwether, as law firm hiring is a useful indicator of the overall health of the legal job market.
Moreover, many economic experts are sounding the alarm about the increased possibility of a near-term recession. Such calamity would very likely lead to a contraction of the legal job market. My hope is that law schools are judicious and cautious in setting enrollment targets, remaining cognizant of the risks of near-sighted optimism.
