US law school applicants hit 82,484, highest since 2010

August 20, 2026 at 11:09 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

In 2026, 82,484 people applied to ABA-accredited law schools in the United States, an 8% increase and the highest number since 2010. The gain followed an 18% surge in 2025, and official 2026 enrollment figures will not be released until December.

Key Facts

82,484 people applied to an ABA-accredited law school in the United States in 2026, the highest number since 2010.
The 2026 applicant pool grew 8% after an 18% surge in 2025, according to Law School Admission Council data.
ABA-accredited law schools enrolled 42,817 new Juris Doctor students in 2025, and official 2026 enrollment figures are due in December.
The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is nearly 6%, higher than the 4% rate among all workers, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The law class of 2024 posted a record-high employment rate above 93%, while National Association for Law Placement data showed entry-level legal jobs declined across many categories in 2025.

Application Surge

Nationwide, 82,484 people applied to an ABA-accredited law school in 2026, an 8% increase over 2025. The gain followed an 18% jump in 2025, making the applicant pool the largest since 2010, according to the Law School Admission Council. ABA-accredited law schools enrolled 42,817 new Juris Doctor students in 2025. Official ABA enrollment figures for 2026 will not be released until December.

Labor Market Drivers

The unemployment rate for recent college graduates is nearly 6%, compared with 4% among all workers, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. College graduates often enroll in advanced degree programs, including law school, to wait out weak hiring conditions. Law school applicant numbers also spiked in 2010 during the Great Recession and in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted entry-level hiring. The law class of 2024 posted a record-high employment rate above 93%, which may have bolstered interest this year.

Entry-Level Job Decline and AI

Data from the National Association for Law Placement released this month showed entry-level legal jobs declined across many categories in 2025, including large law firms and government. The high employment rate among 2025 law graduates partly reflected a smaller class, not stronger hiring. Susan Krinsky, Law School Admission Council executive vice president for operations, said speculation that AI will reduce the need for entry-level lawyers could dissuade future applicants. Conversely, law school programs focused on AI could draw students, though it is too soon to tell, she said. Applicant numbers also increased significantly in 2017 after the start of President Donald Trump's first term, according to Bekah Saidman-Krauss, Law School Admission Council director of candidate engagement.