Law school enrollment has decreased each year since 2010, according to numbers from the American Bar Association (ABA). That was the all-time high with more than 147,000 students at the 204 ABA-approved schools. But, there’s an interesting trend taking place amid this overall student reduction: more minority students are being admitted and attending law school.
Hispanics are applying to law school less frequently than in 2010, along with all other groups. The change is that more Hispanics and other minorites are being accepted. In the 2012-13 school year, nearly 36,000 non-white students were attending law school. That was the highest level on record, following steady increases each year since tracking began in 1987. Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education followed up on the numbers with interviews at schools with significant Hispanic enrollment.
At Florida International University, employment after graduation looks good for Hispanic students. Dean Alexander Acosta reports, “We have 55 percent Hispanics [up from 43.8 percent in 2010] and 65 percent minority overall.” Job placement is at 80% at the nine-month mark, and there’s a lot of opportunity for bilingual lawyers in the Miami community. Rutgers University is also seeing an increase in their Hispanic population, now at 35%. Mentorships, orientation, and other strategies are being implemented to help ensure success. READ MORE AT GOODCALL
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