Applications Continue To Dry Up At Law Schools
Apparently the millennial generation doesn’t want to go to law school. But who can blame us? That’s right, us. We hear the constant voice from the media and friends about being in debt and not finding a job. An interesting article from the Connecticut Law Tribune cites some research from the Law School Admissions Council (authors of the infamous LSAT) that sheds light on where the applicants are going. It turns out, the applicants aren’t going anywhere.
According to the study, the students who have historically applied for law schools are not applying for any graduate education. In fact, law school applications haven’t been this low since 1976. Because those damned kids are “settling” for an undergraduate degree with relatively low salaries and moving home to live with mom and pops. Ah, the stereotypes of the Millennials. We are delaying everything. “Big-kid” jobs, marriage, home ownership. Everything.
So, is this good or bad? Both, according to the article. The good is the students who are there really want to be there and will probably make great attorneys. The bad is, as of now, law schools are missing out on some of the brightest students of a generation. And apparently so are other professions requiring advanced degrees. This is occurring at a time when America increasingly needs good lawyers.
One of the issues is the media. Each week we are constantly reading negative stories about law school. And the law profession. Law schools need a PR savior. Law schools need to provide the opportunity for their students and faculty to produce positive stories. And then they need to communicate those stories.
Take MBAs, for example. MBA applications continue to increase. Business schools are admitting a more diverse class of students. The news coming out of business schools is largely positive. MBA students are doing cool and positive things. Time for the law students to catch up and storytell.
Source: Connecticut Law Journal