Minority law school applicants rise despite US Supreme Court decision on diversity

Despite concerns following the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down the consideration of race in college admissions, the number of minority law school applicants has increased this year.

Data from the Law School Admission Council shows an 8.9 percent rise in Hispanic applicants, a 6.7 percent rise in Black applicants, and a 6.1 percent rise in Asian applicants compared to last year. In contrast, white applicants saw the smallest increase at 3.1 percent.

Reuters reported that many legal educators feared the Supreme Court’s decision would dissuade diverse candidates from applying to law schools, but this has not been the case. Instead, the trend towards greater diversity in law school classes continues. Over the past three years, law schools have enrolled their most diverse first-year classes on record. In 2023, 40 percent of all first-year law students were students of colour, encompassing Hispanic, Black, Asian, Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Other Pacific Islander backgrounds.

Aaron Taylor, executive director of the AccessLex Center for Legal Education, attributed this year's increase to "enhanced recruitment and outreach" by law schools to encourage prospective applicants of colour. However, Taylor noted, "The real measure will be the admission and enrollment numbers."

Additionally, the Supreme Court's decision may have inadvertently motivated more minority applicants to apply, according to Mike Spivey, founder of law school admissions firm Spivey Consulting. Spivey suggested that the conservative majority's stance could have galvanized applicants to respond by seeking law school admission.

Overall, the number of applicants for one of the 197 law schools accredited by the American Bar Association has increased by 5.3 percent compared to last year. This figure is unlikely to change significantly as the admissions cycle nears its end, with 97 percent of all applicants submitting their materials by this time last year.

While the more than 5 percent increase indicates a sustained interest in law school, it is lower than the 13 percent surge in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic led many college graduates to delay entering a weak job market. That gain was nearly offset in 2022 when applicant numbers dropped by 12 percent.

To comply with the Supreme Court’s decision, many law schools have added new essay requirements or personal statement prompts, allowing applicants to discuss their race and background without it being a direct consideration. These additional essays have increased the workload for admissions officers, leading to more students being placed on waitlists and a slower decision-making process.