Indiana News

American Bar Association Membership Down to Lowest Levels in Decades

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WOWO): The American Bar Association says nationwide law school enrollment is down to its lowest level since 1973. The ABA survey also says enrollment is down about 30% from only four years ago. Indianapolis Bar Association President-Elect John Trimble says they‘re also seeing the downward trend locally. He cites numerous factors for the enrollment decline.

Trimble says since the economic downturn in 2008, the nation‘s businesses have become better consumers of legal services and aren‘t using as many lawyers. He says many now hire in-house, salaried attorneys as opposed to hourly attorneys from outside firms. Consequently, Trimble says attorney jobs dried up and fewer young people applied to law school.

Others cite the rise of online legal services like LegalZoom for chipping away at the attorney pool. Trimble says the enrollment decline will cause some marginal law schools to go out of business. He says the trend has created a “buyer‘s market” for firms that are hiring and seeking the best young attorneys who do finish law school and pass the bar exam.

He says it‘s now more challenging for average law school graduates to find good paying jobs.

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