Law Students

Stressed and depressed, only 34% of young lawyers with highest student debt say JD was worth cost, new ABA survey says

High student debt is affecting the emotional well-being of young lawyers and affecting their life decisions, according to a 2024 survey by the ABA Young Lawyers Division released Monday.

Sep 9, 2024 1:18 PM CDT

White male law student settles suit against Chicago Bears over ‘legal diversity fellow’ position

A student at the DePaul University College of Law has settled a lawsuit claiming that the Chicago Bears football team refused to consider him for a “legal diversity fellow” position because he is a white man.

Sep 5, 2024 10:36 AM CDT

To address lawyer shortage, Indiana could fund scholarships, approve allied professionals, commission says

Indiana could help address an attorney shortage in underserved communities through law student scholarships and loan-repayment assistance, according to initial recommendations by the Indiana Supreme Court’s Commission on Indiana’s Legal Future.

Aug 28, 2024 9:04 AM CDT

Interest in law school is up, LSAC tallies show

More people are interested in attending law school, with the number of aspiring lawyers taking the Law School Admission Test up by 11.6% over last year and the number of applicants to law schools up 5.7%

Aug 27, 2024 11:19 AM CDT

Racial disparities in law school applicants remain, AccessLex Institute says

Racial disparities among law school applicants persist, according to the AccessLex Institute’s Legal Education Data Deck.

Aug 15, 2024 9:36 AM CDT

Golden Gate Law students and alums race to court to keep school open

“The court hearing is set for Sept. 13, but I plan to request to have the date shortened,” Ryan Griffith, attorney for the alums and students, and an adjunct professor at and graduate of the Golden Gate University School of Law, told the ABA Journal via email.

Aug 14, 2024 12:16 PM CDT

Tests into and out of law schools—what’s changing and why

Not much can strike more terror into the hearts of aspiring lawyers than the LSAT and the bar exam. Right now, these tests are having a moment.

Aug 14, 2024 8:49 AM CDT

Is the National Conference of Bar Examiners losing power?

As the National Conference of Bar Examiners sunsets the Uniform Bar Exam in 2028, other pathways to practice outside of its exam offerings are emerging, leaving some to question the NCBE’s hold on controlling licensure.

Aug 13, 2024 9:35 AM CDT

Law students should be paid for externships and get salary info at campus interviews, ABA House says

The days of law students working in field placements for credit without monetary compensation may be coming to a close. The House of Delegates resolved Monday at the ABA Annual Meeting to urge law schools to let students receive payment and course credit for field placements.

Aug 5, 2024 6:05 PM CDT

‘Shaping the Bar’ author says bar exam protects legal profession, not public

Lawyer and author discusses with the ABA Journal’s Julianne Hill how the bar’s history of creating a method to test minimum competency is outdated and discriminatory.

Jul 24, 2024 8:48 AM CDT

Florida becomes 21st jurisdiction to commit to NextGen exam

Florida will adopt the NextGen bar exam starting in July 2028, becoming the 21st jurisdiction to use the new exam focused on assessing skills new attorneys need. The Florida Supreme Court approved the switch on Thursday.

Jul 18, 2024 1:50 PM CDT

‘United We Stand’: Lawyers must play crucial role in bringing our nation together

Unity is strength. The wisdom of that truth has been known since ancient times as reflected in Greek fables, such as Aesop's tales about The Four Oxen and the Lion and The Bundle of Sticks, and Chinese stories, such as The Five Chinese Brothers.

Jul 2, 2024 2:04 PM CDT

How did Scalia Law respond to seduction complaints against law prof? Lawmaker wants answers

A lawmaker who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce wants George Mason University to disclose steps that it took to investigate allegations that one of its law professors used his influence “to seduce young female law students.”

Jun 27, 2024 9:25 AM CDT

Over 100 deans commit to training lawyers to sustain constitutional democracy, rule of law

More than 100 deans of U.S. law schools signed an open letter pledging to train law students in ways that will sustain constitutional democracy while encouraging future lawyers to champion the rule of law through advocacy, public education and clinical work.

Jun 18, 2024 1:12 PM CDT

These law firms are preferred destinations for summer associates, new survey says

Surveyed law students at 149 different schools most often chose Kirkland & Ellis as a top place to work in a summer associate position, according to a new survey by Law360 Pulse.

Jun 18, 2024 10:21 AM CDT