Is now the ideal time to apply to law school?

While many of you are probably in the home stretch of preparations for the December LSAT (and we'll have test day tips for you on Thursday), today we're going to look at whether or not it is an ideal time to apply to law school.

With the legal job market and improving and declining numbers of LSAT test-takers, it seems like now is the time to strike if you are looking to maximize your chances for acceptance. Some, like Ryan Calo at Forbes, are optimistic about students' opportunities if they enter law school during the next few years. With fewer applicants competing for spots, some law schools are shrinking their enrollment goals, while others are working even harder to attract top candidates. Proponents argue that, for some students, these changes can open the door to scholarships and one-on-one attention that they might not have had during peak enrollment years. Not only has the application process become more favorable, but with fewer graduates competing for jobs, the employment rate for new lawyers is far higher than in recent years.

Some legal watchers remain more skeptical in the face of these changing dynamics, emphasizing the backlog of graduates still searching for employment opportunities. Even with fewer graduates entering the market in the future, they believe that the market will not be able to keep up with the existing demand. Deborah J. Merritt, a professor at Ohio State University of Law, makes an important point that the quality of positions available may be changing just as rapidly as the quantity. It is difficult to predict whether the majority of opportunities available for future graduates will be traditional associate positions or document review and contract positions that are more reflective of the recent changes in the market.

While both proponents and skeptics make strong arguments, the decision to apply to law school remains a personal decision for every student. It is important to weigh your individual pros and cons for doing so, while also taking into consideration the opportunities you may gain from further studies and experience.