In an unexpected turn of events, the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ban on affirmative action in college admissions has not hindered the surge in diversity among law school applicants, contrary to concerns voiced by some legal scholars.
The latest data from the Law School Admission Council reveals that the current national law school applicant pool boasts a groundbreaking 43% representation of individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, marking the highest percentage on record. The number of minority applicants has experienced a notable 7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Midway through the fall 2024 admissions cycle, the total number of applicants across the country has seen a 4% upswing from the previous year. With a substantial 15% rise in the number of individuals registered to take the Law School Admission Test later this month, there are indications that the applicant pool may expand even further.
The burgeoning diversity in the applicant pool serves as a counterbalance to fears that the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban would discourage minority candidates from pursuing legal education. Susan Krinsky, the executive vice president of operations at the Law School Admission Council, commended the efforts of law schools and the council in reassuring prospective minority candidates that they are still highly sought after.
The Supreme Court’s June decision prohibits colleges and universities from considering race in admissions decisions. However, candidates are still allowed to discuss their race and background in essays and personal statements. To adapt to this change, many law schools have expanded or refined their essay prompts, according to Krinsky.
Hispanic applicants have seen a nearly 9% increase compared to the previous year, while black applicants have grown by over 7%. Asian applicants have also risen by more than 6%, and even white applicants have shown a 1% increase year-over-year.
Despite the current surge in diversity, there remains uncertainty about whether this historically diverse applicant pool will translate into a more racially diverse class this fall. Aaron Taylor, the executive director of the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence, warns of potential future declines in applications from underrepresented groups if higher denial rates among applicants of color emerge after the current admission cycle. Research suggests that the negative impacts of affirmative action bans tend to intensify over time.
The current batch of first-year law students is already making history as the most diverse on record, comprising 40% people of color—an increase from 39% in 2022. Notably, this year’s first-year law students were the final class admitted before the affirmative action ruling took effect.
In a year that defies expectations, the landscape of law school admissions is evolving, challenging assumptions about the impact of affirmative action bans on diversity.
