Title: Surge in Interest in Law School Reflected in LSAC Data
Interest in pursuing a legal education is on the rise, as indicated by recent data from the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The number of individuals taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) has increased by 11.6% compared to the previous year, with a 5.7% rise in the number of applicants to law schools.
LSAC’s latest report for the 2023-2024 LSAT test administration revealed that a total of 155,070 tests were taken by 107,260 individuals, marking a significant uptick from the 96,098 test-takers in the previous year. Additionally, the number of applicants to law schools stood at 64,908 as of August 26, up from 61,434 applicants in the previous year. These figures, which are updated daily, suggest a growing interest in legal education among aspiring lawyers.
Of the individuals who took the LSAT in 2024, 70% were first-time test-takers, representing a 12.5% increase from the previous year. Susan L. Krinsky, the interim president of LSAC, noted that this trend indicates a heightened interest in pursuing a legal career. She stated, “It suggests more people are interested in going to law school,” attributing the surge in interest to various factors shaping the legal landscape.
Historically, election years have often spurred increased interest in law school enrollment. Krinsky speculated that the current political climate, characterized by contentious U.S. Supreme Court rulings and concerns surrounding election certifications, may be motivating individuals to pursue legal education as a means of effecting change.
Due to the high demand for the LSAT in June, an additional testing day was added to accommodate the influx of test-takers. This June session marked the final appearance of the “logic games” section on the test, with a second scored logical reasoning section introduced starting from the August administration.
The trend of rising test-takers shows no signs of abating, with preliminary data for the August LSAT administration indicating a 30% increase in test-takers compared to the same month in the previous year. Moreover, the number of law school applications reached 427,908 this year, reflecting a 2.6% increase from the previous year’s 417,242 applications.
Notably, the percentage of women applying to law schools continues to outpace that of men, further widening the gender gap in legal education. Women accounted for 37,023 applicants, up by 6.6% from the previous year, while male applicants totaled 25,935, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year. Gender diverse applicants also saw a slight uptick of 0.4% from the previous year, with 768 individuals applying to law schools.
Diversity in law school applicants has also seen an upward trajectory, with people of color comprising 47.9% of applicants or applications, up from 47% in the previous year and 44% four years ago. All racial groups experienced an increase in applications, including a notable 14.5% rise in Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander applicants, a 9.6% increase in Hispanic/Latino applicants, and a 7.5% upsurge in Black or African American applicants.
The surge in law school interest comes in the aftermath of the delayed enrollment season for 2024, precipitated by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College in June 2023, which struck down race-based admissions. Contrary to expectations, applicants of color were not dissuaded from applying, as evidenced by the robust increase in applications from diverse candidates.
In conclusion, the growing interest in law school reflected in the LSAC data underscores the enduring appeal of legal education and the diverse motivations driving individuals to pursue a career in law. As the legal landscape continues to evolve, aspiring lawyers are seizing the opportunity to contribute to and shape the future of the legal profession through their educational pursuits.
