Thinking About Law School: Rising Interest, Loans, and AI

Interest in law school has risen sharply in recent years. The number of applicants is about 22% higher than last year and more than 50% higher than two years ago, while applications submitted have risen even more. Many law school test registrations and first-time test takers are up, and the applicant pool shows greater racial and geographic diversity.

At the same time, federal student loan rules are changing and borrowing limits for graduate and professional students will be stricter. New limits and other policy shifts mean some students may face higher costs or different repayment rules, and schools may adjust financial aid and recruiting practices as a result.

Meanwhile, law firms are adopting artificial intelligence for routine tasks, and some large firms have reduced back-office roles. The use of AI is also growing among individual lawyers for drafting and research, although firm-wide adoption is uneven. Therefore, the job market for new lawyers may change even as more people enter law school. Talk with current students and lawyers while you decide.