Four Myths About Law School Applications
U.S. News & World Report: “When you’re applying to law school, not all guidance is golden. Even a high GPA and LSAT score don’t mean your application is a slam dunk – and sometimes bad advice from friends and family can derail an aspiring lawyer’s plans.
“While, yes, it takes a certain academic aptitude to succeed in law school, the more important factors are the intangibles that are necessary when working in a human service field,” says Meri Althauser, director of admissions at the University of Montana’s Alexander Blewett III School of Law.
Considering applying to law school? Here’s the worst advice you may get – and why you should avoid it:
Myth: There’s No Harm in Retaking the LSAT
The Law School Admission Council, which administers the LSAT, permits you to take the test five times within the current reportable score period. But retakes aren’t always the best idea.
“While retaking the LSAT can improve your score, it’s far from risk-free. Law schools often see all of your scores, and some may average them or consider multiple attempts as a lack of preparedness,” says Andrew Ingalls, litigation partner at Day Pitney.
If you’re planning to retake the LSAT, you should “ensure you’ve genuinely addressed the weaknesses in your prep to make the risk worthwhile,” he says.
Retaking the test also means you’re likely to submit your application later. And since most law schools use rolling admissions – reviewing applications as they’re received – “retaking the LSAT may impact negatively on the timing of action on your application,” says Heidi Reavis, managing partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP.
Law schools differ in their policies on retaking the LSAT, “so you should consider which schools you are applying to and understand their policies before making the decision,” she adds.”
To read other myths, click here.
Federal Agencies Curb Law School Recruiting
Bloomberg Law: “Federal agencies are pulling out of on-campus recruiting events at law schools, following through on President Donald Trump’s directive to freeze hiring.
More than a dozen agencies withdrew from a public interest career fair hosted by New York University’s law school on Thursday and Friday, according to a NYU spokesperson. The annual event saw more than 1,700 job seekers from 20 law schools last year. Multiple agencies also skipped a Jan. 24 law student recruiting event organized by Georgetown University and George Washington University, according to two people familiar with the situation.
Trump announced an executive order pausing hiring at federal agencies on January 20, the same day he was sworn in for a second term. The order nixed federal jobs and internships in legal and other roles across the federal government, including honors programs for recent law graduates at the Internal Revenue Service and the Justice Department.
Nearly 1,000 new law graduates landed federal government jobs in 2023, according to the National Association of Law Placement. More than 250 of the roles were in agency honors programs.”
To read more, click here.
Law School Trends To Watch In 2025
Reuters: “Law schools just wrapped up a year that saw the American Bar Association open the door to admitting students without standardized tests; the removal of the so-called “logic games” from the Law School Admission Test; disruptions brought about by campus protests over the war in Gaza; declines in summer associate recruiting by large law firms; and major changes to California’s bar exam, which has the second-largest number of takers each year, with more than 11,300 in 2023. Heading into 2025, here are the key trends to watch.
Enrollment
It’s looking like 2025 will be a blockbuster year for law school enrollment. Nearly halfway through the current admissions cycle, the number of people who have applied for a seat at an ABA-accredited law school for the fall is up 25% compared with this time last year. And 2024 was already a good year for law schools, with applicants up 6% and a 5% increase in first-year students. Experts have speculated that the presidential election and the prominent role of law in current affairs is prompting more people to consider legal careers.
With more applicants to choose from, law schools can afford to be a bit pickier about whom they admit — which isn’t great news for this year’s crop of aspiring lawyers. Snagging a seat at an elite law school will likely be tougher due to heightened competition. The number of people who have applied with a top LSAT scores between 175 and 180 — the highest possible — is up 32%, while applicants with scores of 170 to 174 are up 30%.”
To read other trends, click here.
