First-Gen Law Student Enrollment Drops 7% Post-Affirmative Action Ruling

First-generation law student enrollment fell 7% nationally after the Supreme Court ended affirmative action.

Law school enrollment by first-generation students—those whose parents did not complete college—fell 7% nationwide, according to new Law School Admission Council (LSAC) data. This decline came after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision to end the consideration of race in college and law school admissions—a practice known as race-conscious admissions.

• Legal industry leaders have long depended on talent with diverse backgrounds, including first-generation students, who often offer critical perspectives but commonly face competitive, financial, and social challenges enrolling in law school.
• LSAC noted an increase in 2023-24 law school applicants identifying as Black (12%) and Latino (13%), but added that overall first-generation enrollment still declined. The reasons for these trends are multifaceted and may include increased recruitment or other factors.
• Historical data highlights continued impact elsewhere: After California’s 1996 affirmative action ban, enrollment numbers for students from underrepresented backgrounds dropped 12%. In Michigan, Black undergraduate enrollment declined almost 50% between 2006 and 2021 following a state ban, reported CNBC.

Cara McClellan, director of the Advocacy for Racial and Civil Justice Clinic at Penn Carey Law, urged attention to these numbers, stating in response to LSAC findings, "For first-generation students, the obstacles to law school access remain substantial." Law firms and in-house teams watching admissions trends may see a future talent pipeline that reflects fewer first-generation perspectives.

Yes, but: Some applicant groups increased, and longer-term impacts may depend on future outreach and support initiatives.

What's next: Legal employers and law schools are monitoring the first post-ruling admissions cycles for further diversity changes.