Law School Apps Drop 11.5 Percent, a 10-Year Low Forum

[beachbum]

So apps are down, schools are dropping their class sizes, and firms are increasing their summer classes and offer rates. It might not be rainbows and unicorns, but I'm relieved (and a little excited) to finally have some good news. Sucks for 2010-2013, but hopefully things will be looking up for 2014.

[The Kid]

Does anyone know if there has been any drop among the T15 (easy guys, just teasing)?

[whymeohgodno]

The drop % is low not the overall applicant %. Last year we had apps go up like 20%?

[alexonfyre]

This should factor into everyone's decision

http://io9.com/#!5782361/where-did-batman-go-to-college

I thought I was about to read a cogent article about hoe one's actions in life, and not their educational credentials, is what makes them who they are. But no, Batman went to Yale. Everyone fucking went to Yale. Have a fun life being forgotten, proles.

[minnbills]

I would imagine most of the drop is amongst less reputable schools.

Though I do remember hearing from a family friend- a graduate of UMN law- that the school sent out an email asking alums to help bring in more applicants.

[dissonance1848]

Several things. Applications are going to be down disproportionately among lower ranked schools. Highly ranked schools will remains as competitive (perhaps more so with smaller classes).

Also, undergrad enrollments are still rising. The largest graduating high school class will be around 2012-2014, so this seems more likely temporary, and the numbers will become even more extreme over the next few years.

P.S Who ever was claiming that unemployment will come down below 8% in 2012 is insane. Given the current projected growth rates, a greater proportion (not just number) of people will be unemployed in 2021 than now.

[CMDantes]

This is good news.

[youarereadingthis]

I would imagine most of the drop is amongst less reputable schools.

Though I do remember hearing from a family friend- a graduate of UMN law- that the school sent out an email asking alums to help bring in more applicants.

Depends on your definition of "reputable." Fordham Law apps are down 15% from last year.

[whymeohgodno]

I would imagine most of the drop is amongst less reputable schools.

Though I do remember hearing from a family friend- a graduate of UMN law- that the school sent out an email asking alums to help bring in more applicants.

Depends on your definition of "reputable." Fordham Law apps are down 15% from last year.

Fordham is solid

[minnbills]

I would imagine most of the drop is amongst less reputable schools.

Though I do remember hearing from a family friend- a graduate of UMN law- that the school sent out an email asking alums to help bring in more applicants.

Depends on your definition of "reputable." Fordham Law apps are down 15% from last year.

I was referring to schools like cooley etc.

I guess I stand corrected.

[HooCavalier]

And yet, we still applied and many of us have put seat deposits down and will be matriculating in the fall. What does that say about us?

It says we time things well, because we will be coming out when the economy is better and we'll have less competition for jobs.

Our OCI will be near the end of 2012. Unemployment is expected to be around 7%. Do you think employment prospects will really be better? Will a year and a half be enough time to filter out all of the unemployed attorneys/law students? + the huge record breaking class of 2013?

Yup.

Problem is, exisiting lawyers will not be retiring as early as they used to, as every other field is also experiencing. Baby Boomer lawyers will stay around for years.

[ArthurDigbySellers]

Damn Baby Boomers

[minnbills]

Damn Baby Boomers

Once they leave it's open season though.

[AP-375]

P.S Who ever was claiming that unemployment will come down below 8% in 2012 is insane. Given the current projected growth rates, a greater proportion (not just number) of people will be unemployed in 2021 than now.

Apparently those wacky economist folks over at the Wall Street Journal are among the insane, saying unemployment will be around 7.7%. Although, if you're able to predict unemployment in 2021, I think they should be listening to you.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 85382.html

I find this news very encouraging, and I feel like there are getting to be more and more small signs of hope in the legal market. Hopefully that will add up to a big enough impact for 2013 OCI.

[whymeohgodno]

P.S Who ever was claiming that unemployment will come down below 8% in 2012 is insane. Given the current projected growth rates, a greater proportion (not just number) of people will be unemployed in 2021 than now.

Apparently those wacky economist folks over at the Wall Street Journal are among the insane, saying unemployment will be around 7.7%. Although, if you're able to predict unemployment in 2021, I think they should be listening to you.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 85382.html

I find this news very encouraging, and I feel like there are getting to be more and more small signs of hope in the legal market. Hopefully that will add up to a big enough impact for 2013 OCI.

Yeah but aren't these the same economists that didn't see the biggest financial disaster since the Great Depression coming?

[yngblkgifted]

So apps are down, schools are dropping their class sizes, and firms are increasing their summer classes and offer rates. It might not be rainbows and unicorns, but I'm relieved (and a little excited) to finally have some good news. Sucks for 2010-2013, but hopefully things will be looking up for 2014.

+1

[ArthurDigbySellers]

Several things. Applications are going to be down disproportionately among lower ranked schools. Highly ranked schools will remains as competitive (perhaps more so with smaller classes).

Also, undergrad enrollments are still rising. The largest graduating high school class will be around 2012-2014, so this seems more likely temporary, and the numbers will become even more extreme over the next few years.

P.S Who ever was claiming that unemployment will come down below 8% in 2012 is insane. Given the current projected growth rates, a greater proportion (not just number) of people will be unemployed in 2021 than now.

Why are there so many damn kids in high school? Why do people have so many goddamned children?

[AP-375]

Yeah but aren't these the same economists that didn't see the biggest financial disaster since the Great Depression coming?

Only Glenn Beck saw it coming. When will there be a Glenn Beck Law School Ranking?

[ArthurDigbySellers]

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[ArthurDigbySellers]

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[CMDantes]

So apps are down, schools are dropping their class sizes, and firms are increasing their summer classes and offer rates. It might not be rainbows and unicorns, but I'm relieved (and a little excited) to finally have some good news. Sucks for 2010-2013, but hopefully things will be looking up for 2014.

+1

+1

[applepiecrust]

Sigh, Batman went to Yale Law and even he couldn't get a legal job? We're doomed.

And without HYS credentials, I won't even get a job as a superhero.

[zonto]

Regarding the unemployment discussion: firms have cash now to hire more employees, but they are unsure of fiscal policy and don't have faith in the current administration. I think if Americans can pull their heads out and vote people in next year that will actually do something, it will remove some of the uncertainty for these companies. The rest of the puzzle should fall into place, and I think 7.7% is definitely possible in a couple years.

[minnbills]

Regarding the unemployment discussion: firms have cash now to hire more employees, but they are unsure of fiscal policy and don't have faith in the current administration. I think if Americans can pull their heads out and vote people in next year that will actually do something, it will remove some of the uncertainty for these companies. The rest of the puzzle should fall into place, and I think 7.7% is definitely possible in a couple years.

Nonsense- corporate profits were at a high, high level last year.

The big companies aren't hiring because they don't need to expand.

And why inject politics into this in the first place?

[zonto]

Is it nonsense? Especially considering companies didn't even know if the tax breaks would continue until a couple weeks before the deadline? There is a lot of uncertainty and that is clearly adding to the unemployment rate.

I highly doubt that we would see such a high level of M&A activity at the end of last year if companies "don't need to expand." They bought companies instead of hiring workers to grow their businesses. Seems that firms that were focusing on financial services, corporations, etc. were doing just fine during that time. Bankruptcy law has also been solid.