Law Schools

What Is Behind The Sharp Spike In LSAT Takers?

Law schools' wishes are coming true...

By  
on

All of a sudden there are a ton of people who want to be lawyers — at least enough to sit for the LSAT. According to LSAC, the organization that administers the exam, the number of esquire hopefuls who took the exam this June was up a whopping 20 percent from the June 2016 administration. That’s the biggest increase since September 2009. (Aw, I remember the halcyon days of 2009 — law school was a safe bet, layoffs were rare, and Dewey & LeBoeuf was still a firm.)

As we all know, the legal industry has certainly changed since then, with law school seeing a pretty steady decline in applicants — especially those with stellar credentials. Job prospects for lawyers hasn’t radically changed in the last year… so what gives?

Well, lawyers are having a bit of a moment. The ACLU is trendy, and they’re ready for a full-out war with the Trump administration. Lawyers are seen as the last bulwark standing in front of a Trump oligarchy, and that might be behind the increased popularity of the LSAT — the so-called “Trump Bump.” Even Law School Admission Council President Kellye Testy thinks it could be a factor:

I think people are starting to understand again the necessity for the rule of law. Our current political climate has demonstrated that.

But the truth is probably more complicated than all that. Jeff Thomas, Kaplan Test Prep’s executive director of pre-law programs, details several factors that could be behind the increase:

Law schools have been wishcasting a rebound in applications for the past several years – and maybe, just maybe, it’ll finally happen. This week LSAC is reporting a 20% increase in June test-takers versus last June’s administration. But why? There’s lots of speculation. Some potential reasons:

  • LSAC recently lifted the cap on the number of times you can take the LSAT. Previously, test-takers were limited to sitting for three administrations over a two-year period. Perhaps more students are testing the waters now.
  • A shifting testing calendar. This year’s June exam was a week later than last year’s, allowing college test-takers to attempt to cram in their preparation after semester finals have concluded. Additionally, this year’s earlier Fall administration makes the Fall test a less-attractive option, as Test Day is just as students would be settling in for the Fall semester.
  • An improving employment landscape. Perhaps potential applicants are seeing law school as a better investment.
  • But the most interesting theory of all is the so-called Trump Bump. Is the current political climate inspiring the next generation of attorneys, politicians, judges and DC lobbyists?

We won’t know if the June test-taker surge is a just a shift or a true renewed interest in legal education for a while. Sure, some law schools will accept highly qualified late applicants for this Fall’s incoming class. But those numbers are likely to be small. And applicants for this Fall’s class are actually down a tick from last year’s applicant numbers. The real test will be next year when we see how the numbers of applicants shape up for Fall 2018 admissions.

That’s another point that bears repeating — an increase in LSAT takers is a necessary but not sufficient condition to bigger (and potentially more-qualified) law school classes. Whether interested students are actually willing to pony up the money to get a J.D. remains to be seen.

Sponsored

Number of LSAT Test-Takers Surges. Is It a Trump Bump? [Law.com]

headshotKathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored

Topics

, , , ,