What is the trend in law school admission?
Asked by: Leta Murphy | Last update: July 2, 2025Score: 4.7/5 (13 votes)
Nearly halfway through the current admissions cycle, the number of people who have applied for a seat at an ABA-accredited law school for the fall is up 25% compared with this time last year. And 2024 was already a good year for law schools, with applicants up 6% and a 5% increase in first-year students.
Are law school applications increasing or decreasing?
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%.
What are the law school application trends for 2024?
Experts are debating the reasons behind a significant increase in applications to U.S. law schools, which were up almost 33% as of December 8, 2024, compared to the same time last year. The number of U.S.-based law school applicants also jumped 25% compared to 2023.
Are law school admissions getting more competitive?
It's shaping up to be very competitive year for aspiring law students, with the number of applicants to law school jumping 25% and applications to law schools up a whopping 35% over a year ago, according to the Law School Admission Council's latest figures.
Are law school admissions getting harder?
It may take years to understand how changes to the admissions process shake out. Both the number of applicants and the number of applications sent by average applicants jumped dramatically, leading law schools to become more competitive and even oversubscribe their classes.
How to Apply to Law School | A Guide to Law School Admissions
What is the enrollment trend for law school?
Together, total law school enrollment for Fall 2024 decreased 890 students (0.64% percent) to 138,993. Law schools reported that 39,689 students began studies in the Fall 2024 FY class (First-Year enrollees) class. This is an increase of 1,803 students (4.76%) from the 2023 reporting cycle.
What is the easiest law school to get into?
- Creighton University Law School – 79%
- University of Wyoming Law School – 78%
- Marquette University Law School – 77%
- Loyola New Orleans Law School – 76%
- Drake University Law School – 75%
- Oklahoma City University School of Law – 72%
What GPA do you need to get into most law schools?
According to the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), students need a GPA of at least 3.59 and an LSAT of 162 or more to get into any top 10 law schools. However, that is the bare minimum, and you should aim higher if you want to increase your chances of getting into the top 3.
What is the hardest year in law school?
Law school is an academic challenge; most students agree the first year (“1L” year) is the most difficult. In part, this is because law school is taught using methods entirely different than the lecture method used in most college classrooms.
Does a Masters make you more competitive for law school?
The LSAT is one of the most important factors in law admissions, even more so for applicants who have been out of college for some time. In contrast, earning a graduate degree is more of a soft factor that gives applicants an edge, like military service or impressive work experience.
What undergrad is most popular for law?
- English. Regardless of their niche, the cornerstones of every successful lawyer are exceptional reading comprehension and persuasive writing. ...
- Classical Studies. ...
- Environmental Sciences. ...
- Literature. ...
- Policy Studies. ...
- Industrial Relations. ...
- History. ...
- Math.
Do law schools prefer older applicants?
It's never too late to apply to law school. Law schools appreciate older applicants for their life experience and well-defined career goals.
Is the LSAT going away in 2025?
The ABA's House of Delegates will vote on the Council's proposed change in February 2023. If the House votes to nix Standard 503, the standardized-test requirement won't go away until 2025. So, the LSAT isn't definitely going away, and it's definitely not going away until 2025.
Are law schools dropping the LSAT?
Yes, some law schools have chosen not to make LSAT scores a mandatory part of their admission criteria. Instead, they consider other factors like GPA, work experience, or alternative standardized tests.
Are fewer people going to law school?
Today, overall JD enrollment has roughly stabilized at a level not seen in over 40 years. Compared to the peak in JD enrollment in 2010 (147,525 students), overall JD enrollment was down 20.8% in 2023.
What type of lawyer makes the most money?
Patent Attorney Salary
Patent attorneys are the highest-paid type of lawyers, with an average salary of $185,351, ranging from $119,88 to $285,530. Various factors contribute to a patent attorney's average salary, including experience, firm, location, and subject matter expertise.
Is law school harder than med school?
Although both law and medical schools present their unique challenges, it's generally accepted that medical school demands a higher level of intense coursework and thorough training.
What LSAT score do I need for Harvard?
So let's take a look at what it actually takes to have a chance of being admitted to the most prestigious and preeminent law school in the world. As you can see from these numbers, an LSAT score of 170 or higher and a GPA above 3.75 will give you a chance of gaining admission to Harvard Law School.
Is LSAT or GPA more important?
In general terms, it can be said that law schools value LSAT scores more than they do undergraduate GPA, but whether or not this statement applies to a given institution and how by much depends on the school.
How many times can I take the LSAT?
How many times may I take the LSAT? Five times within the current reportable score period (i.e., since June 2019). A total of seven times over a lifetime.
What is the average LSAT score for first time takers?
LSAT scores range from 120 to 180. First-time LSAT test-takers score an average of 151 out of 180. The median LSAT score of first-year JD students is 158.5. Among first-year JD students, 160.9 is considered a high score (75th percentile), and 154.8 is considered a low score (25th percentile)
What is the easiest type of lawyer to become?
The easiest law to practice is often considered to be estate planning. This involves helping clients prepare for the distribution of their assets upon death or incapacitation, making it relatively straightforward compared to other legal fields.
Is getting a full ride to law school hard?
Some law schools offer a “full-ride,” although this can mean a lot of different things. In law school, full-ride programs usually cover the full cost of tuition — not living expenses, books, etc. These full-ride scholarships are highly competitive.
What is the most accepted major for law school?
- History. By studying history, you can develop an understanding of how certain laws and regulations were developed. ...
- Political science. ...
- Psychology. ...
- Criminal justice. ...
- English. ...
- Economics. ...
- Philosophy.