Aspiring lawyers have consistently rated their law school experiences highly over the past two decades, with approximately 80% describing their experience as “good” or “excellent” in the annual Law School Survey of Student Engagement.
However, satisfaction rates among students of color have lagged behind those of white students throughout this period.
The survey, conducted by Indiana University’s Center for Postsecondary Research, celebrated its 20th anniversary this month by examining changes in student diversity, debt loads, career plans, and overall satisfaction since its inception in 2004.
“Twenty years of data reveal that law students are more diverse, increasingly engaged, and better prepared than ever before,” said Meera Deo, Southwestern law professor and director of the survey.
Since 2004, more than 425,000 law students have participated in the survey. In 2024, 84% of white students rated their law school experience as good or excellent, compared with 67% of Black students and 77% of Latino students.
Despite mounting evidence of stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges among law students, overall satisfaction levels have remained steady. For instance, in the 2021 survey, 91% of students reported experiencing at least “some” increase in mental or emotional exhaustion due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, 78% still rated their overall experience positively.
Racial disparities in satisfaction persist even as law schools have become more racially diverse. In 2004, 83% of law students identified as white, but that figure dropped to 68% by 2024.
The survey also found that law students are starting younger. While only 1% were younger than 23 in 2004, that number rose to 11% by 2024.
Debt burdens have fluctuated over the years, with slight declines in the past decade. In 2004, 18% of students anticipated graduating with $100,000 or more in debt. That number surged to 43% by 2014 but declined to 36% in 2024. Debt loads vary significantly by race: in 2024, 53% of Latino students and 51% of Black students expected to graduate with $100,000 or more in debt, compared to 32% of white students.
Career aspirations among law students have remained relatively stable. Over the last 20 years, about 53% of students have aimed to enter private practice after graduation. Similarly, between 26% and 28% have planned for government agency roles, and roughly 6% have pursued public interest law.
“The biggest takeaway from these findings is that legal education remains strong, despite recent dramatic upheavals around us,” the survey concluded.
