Why law school applications are spiking in Minnesota
Minnesota's law schools are seeing a surge in applications this year.
The big picture: While the high interest may be good news for local programs, it means more competition among those who want to pursue — or pivot to — a career in law.
What's happening: A presidential transition, changes to the LSAT exam, and more attention being paid to the law and courts are leading more people to apply to law school across the nation.
Applications to nearly 200 programs jumped 20.5% compared with last year, The Wall Street Journal reports.
By the numbers: University of Minnesota Law School Dean William McGeveran told Axios that applications are up 40% so far this year at the nationally ranked program.
Mitchell Hamline School of Law's year-over-year spike is in line with the national trend, spokesperson Ally Roecker told Axios. She declined to share exact stats, saying the schools keep that data "internal in order to remain competitive among peer institutions."
University of St. Thomas School of Law spokesperson Carrie Hilger said the school's increase is "higher than the national average."
Context: Law school applications routinely rise amid recessions and tough job markets, according to the WSJ.
A second "Trump bump," inspired by high-profile legal battles over the administration's policies, may also be driving the trend this year, the paper reports.
Zoom in: Both of those considerations were factors for Caleb Kelson, a 25-year-old St. Paul resident.
Kelson, who majored in Spanish as an undergraduate, knew he wanted to go to grad school to help land a stable career after several years of working odd jobs.
But the legal fights over the administration's immigration crackdown and separation of powers in general propelled him through the grueling application process.
"It made me realize it's relevant, and how the Constitution is interpreted is really important to me," Kelson, who plans to attend St. Thomas in the fall and hopes to go into immigration law, told Axios.
Between the lines: Some law school hopefuls told the WSJ that the removal of the logic games section from the LSAT this cycle helped raise scores, which could result in more applicants, especially to top-tier programs.
Kelson said he saw a slight bump in his LSAT score after that change.
What we're hearing: Mitchell Hamline vice president of enrollment Annie Gemmell told Axios that while it's "too early to say what factors are driving the increase," the influences cited by the WSJ's report "make sense."
A survey of LSAT takers conducted on behalf of hundreds of law schools after the admissions cycle is done will give schools a better sense of motivations, she added.
The bottom line: The total number of applicants nationwide remains below record highs seen in the 1990s, per the WSJ, but the year-over-year jump still means fierce competition for aspiring lawyers.
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Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, arrives to speak to the press outside the US Capitol. ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday: "Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky is not MAGA, even though he likes to say he is. Actually, MAGA doesn't want him, doesn't know him, and doesn't respect him. He is a negative force who almost always Votes "NO," no matter how good something may be. He's a simple minded "grandstander" who thinks it's good politics for Iran to have the highest level Nuclear weapon, while at the same time yelling "DEATH TO AMERICA" at every chance they get." He added: "Iran has killed and maimed thousands of Americans, and even took over the American Embassy in Tehran under the Carter Administration. We had a spectacular military success yesterday, taking the "bomb" right out of their hands (and they would use it if they could!) but, as usual, and despite all of the praise and accolades received, this "lightweight" Congressman is against what was so brilliantly achieved last night in Iran. Massie is weak, ineffective, and votes "NO" on virtually everything put before him (Rand Paul, Jr.), no matter how good something may be. He is disrespectful to our great military, and all that they stand for, not even acknowledging their brilliance and bravery in yesterday's attack, which was a total and complete WIN. Massie should drop his fake act and start putting America First, but he doesn't know how to get there — he doesn't have a clue!" Trump concluded: "He'll undoubtedly vote against the Great, Big, Beautiful Bill, even though non-passage means a 68% Tax Increase for everybody, and many things far worse than that. MAGA should drop this pathetic LOSER, Tom Massie, like the plague! The good news is that we will have a wonderful American Patriot running against him in the Republican Primary, and I'll be out in Kentucky campaigning really hard. MAGA is not about lazy, grandstanding, nonproductive politicians, of which Thomas Massie is definitely one. Thank you to our incredible military for the AMAZING job they did last night. It was really SPECIAL!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." Representative Thomas Massie on X, formerly Twitter on Sunday: "I introduced a War Powers Resolution on Tuesday, while Congress was on vacation. We would have had plenty of time to debate and vote on this." What Happens Next? The House War Powers Resolution is scheduled for a mandatory floor vote within 15 days under the chamber's rules.
