09-11-2025
Reuters reports that law school applications in the U.S. increased by 18% since last year, the “highest year-over-year increase since 2002.” There were 76,599 applicants, that is 12,000 more than the previous year. American Bar Association-accredited schools enrolled almost 40,000 students in 2024. The University of Michigan Law School saw a 33% increase in applicants, the most it has ever received. Experts believe the number of 2025 applicants could be as big or bigger. Registrants and examinees for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) went up by double digits from last year. The test may also be a factor in the jump because it is offered more frequently and has removed the logic games section.
Admission experts and legal educators vary in their opinions about the reason for the surge. However, most of them believe that it is some combination of fewer entry-level job opportunities for recent college graduates and the current political climate. Law school applications usually rise during recessions. Even though we are not currently in a recession, the slow job market for college graduates does encourage exploring other options. The strong employment numbers for recent law school graduates are another incentive. The 2024 law school graduates had an employment rate of 93.4% with higher median salaries.
The Georgetown Law admissions dean believes conversations about law, policy, and the court that occurred during the 2024 election intensified interest in the law. Social media allows everyone to see legal developments in real time. The dean interviewed about 5,000 of the school’s applicants. He reports that they were “more fired up than their predecessors.” Many want to feel empowered to “fight the Trump agenda or defend it.”