The Law School Disconnect

A couple interesting posts this past week highlight conflicting trends on a collision course.

The Law School Admissions Council reported that the number of people taking the Law School Admissions Test last October was the second highest ever.

A closer look at the LSAC's chart shows this is part of a greater trend.

• The highest number of October test takers in the history of the exam occurred last year.

• The highest number of June test takers ever was this year.

• The second and third highest number of June test takers was last year and the year before.

• The highest number of December test takers was last year, with the second highest number of December test takers being the year prior.

• The highest and second highest number of February test takers also took place in the last two years.

However, as The American Lawyer summarizes their 2010 Survey of the Am Law 200 they conclude:

• The survey "suggests that many of the changes implemented during the recession--smaller associate classes, postponed start dates for new hires, reductions in the equity pool, and scaled-back profit expectations--are here to stay, at least for a while."

While at Above The Law, a debate over whether a 1L with "only" $21,000 of debt invested in law school should read the writing on the wall and drop out now.

80% of the responders concurred that the fiscally wise move would be to drop out now.

So we have a record number of potential law school students facing a record squeeze on entry to the profession. Something has to give.