U.S. law school applications are rising amid changes in admissions tests and the political climate

Admissions experts such as consultant Mike Spivey also pointed to key changes to the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) itself as a likely reason for the increase. In August, LSAC removed the “brain games” section — long considered the most difficult section of the test — following a 2019 settlement with two blind test-takers who argued the section violated the Americans with Disabilities Act. Spivey suggested that the removal of this section prompted many prospective students to take the revised LSAT exam, leading to an early surge in applicants.

“We’re seeing a lot of signs that this year’s admissions cycle is off to a strong start,” Krinsky said, warning that the initial surge could wane in the coming months. Law schools began accepting applications in September or early October, and more applicants are expected as the cycle continues.

The recent changes to the LSAT were accompanied by a 13 percent increase in the number of test takers in August, September and October, and registrations for the November exam were up 31 percent from last year. Spivey expects the total number of applicants to increase by 10 to 15 percent by the end of the cycle, anticipating increased competition for spots at top law schools due to an influx of people with high LSAT scores.

However, Krinsky raised some reservations about the early numbers. She noted that many law schools last year delayed accepting applications for proofreading essays and personal statements in light of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that banned the consideration of race in college admissions. As a result, the current data may reflect an artificial injection resulting from the earlier opening of this year’s applications.