Getting into law school may be tougher this year

A lot more people are applying to study law this year. According to the Wall Street Journal, applications are up 20.5% compared to last year, making it one of the most competitive courses.

Georgetown University Law Center has received 14,000 applications for 650 spots. The University of Michigan Law School saw its highest number of applications in 166 years, reviewing over 8,900 to fill roughly 320 seats.

The surge is fueled by a weakening job market, layoffs in the tech sector, AI advancement concerns, and changes to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

The LSAT removed its logic games section, encouraging more students to apply and boost their points.

High salaries of up to $225,000 at top law firms are another reason applicants find it an attractive career despite only a fraction of graduates securing such roles.

Experts note that the high-profile legal issues arising from President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration and anti-DEI orders also encourage more students to study law.

However, it also means universities’ waitlists are growing, and applicants are anxiously tracking their chances online. There are also concerns about overenrollment and future job prospects for graduates.