Students all over the country are applying to law school ratherthan attempting to enter the work force.
SMU students are no exception.
Over the past two years, applications to the Dedman School ofLaw have increased 72 percent.
This trend follows at law schools throughout the country.
Nationwide, there has been a 29 percent increase in law schoolapplications from 2001 to 2003 according to the September 2003 LawSchool Admissions Council Report.
In the South Central Region alone, which includes SMU, there hasbeen a 34 percent increase over the same time period.
Despite the large increase in applications to SMU, there has notbeen an increase in class sizes. As a result, getting into lawschool has become more difficult.
“The fall 2003 acceptance rate of 23 percent is the lowestthe school of law has seen in a long time,” said VirginiaKeehan, acting director of admissions at Dedman School of Law.”Even though there has been such a huge increase inapplications, there has been no increase in class size. We have hadto turn away a lot of applicants.”
Students may not want to pursue a career in law, but many saidtheir chances of landing a job in the depressed market oftenincrease when they hold a law degree.
“Even if you’re going to operate a Krispy Kreme, youwill benefit from a broader knowledge of the law,” second-year law student Meredith Wright said. “It gives you anadvantage.”
Robin Travis, a sophomore political science major, said sheplans to attend law school after getting her undergraduatedegree.
“The economy is bad, and even though a job isn’tguaranteed, a law degree gives you more security,” shesaid.
Law school administrators agree.
“Students definitely anticipate a more difficult timegetting a job in the current market, and they look at law school asa way to improve their chances,” Keehan said.
Students also seek the benefits of networking when they thinkabout law school.
“Law school is all about networking. Your chances ofgetting the job you want are higher when you go to law school andyou make those connections,” said Nina Morris, a juniorphilosophy major.
“I think it would be a great advantage for me, as anAfrican-American, to have a law degree and the connections that gowith it in a competitive job market like politics in WashingtonD.C.,” Morris said.
Although the increase in applications will continue as long asthe job market is volatile, SMU administrators believe they haveseen the peak of the increase.
“I don’t think that our applications will continueto increase at the rate that they have been,” Keehan said.”Even though I believe our application pool will continue tobe large, I believe our largest increase has come andgone.”
