It’s official: law school is having a moment.

Applications for the 2024 cycle are up, and it’s not just a blip. According to the Law School Admission Council, nearly 68,000 people have applied so far this year — a 19% increase over last year’s tally.¹ This is a 26% increase from two years ago. One thing is clear: Interest in law degrees is picking up steam again. 

This isn’t a new playbook. Historically, law school applications tend to rise during periods of economic volatility. It’s not alone, either. Grad school programs of all types can serve as a pause button with a purpose.²

There are a few reasons for the draw to law. Economic uncertainty can be one of them. Job markets in tech and media have cooled, the nature of entry-level jobs is changing, and many people who are early in their careers are looking for ways to level up.³ In uncertain times, law school can feel like a stabilizer: Something credentialed, respected, and full of future options.

Why law school — and why now?

Increased interest in law school isn’t just about an alternative to job-seeking. There’s a values shift happening as well.

Law degrees are starting to appeal to a broader crowd: Career switchers, aspiring policymakers, and professionals are looking to add structure to their career paths.⁴ There’s renewed interest in advocacy, sustainability, and social causes too — all areas where legal expertise carries weight. According to the American Bar Association, enrollment is also getting more diverse, with more women and people of color entering the pipeline.⁵

The pull to law school isn’t just a contingency plan. It’s a shift in mindset.

The price tag is steep — so is the potential payoff

Even though law school is seeing a resurgence, it may still come with a large bill for most would-be scholars.

Law programs at private universities average around $53,000 per year in tuition.⁶ Public schools come in lower — around $30,500 for in-state students — but once housing, books, and bar prep enter the picture, total costs can top $150,000.⁷ Many law students borrow to make it work: The average graduate walks away with about $130,000 in student debt.⁸

That said, many grads see a decent return. A study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce found that four years post-graduation, median earnings (after student loan payments) sit around $72,000.⁹ And graduates from top-tier schools tend to earn six figures earlier — and more consistently — than peers in other advanced degree tracks.¹⁰

Thinking outside the courtroom

Law degrees aren’t just for litigators, either. In fact, fewer students are heading to courtrooms — and more are moving into roles that blend law with business, tech, policy, or public service.

People with law degrees are working across compliance, data privacy, regulatory strategy, nonprofit leadership, environmental consulting, and human resources. These jobs may offer better work-life balance, strong pay, and growing demand — all indicators of stability many job-seekers are looking for out of an advanced degree.

Legal insight is increasingly crucial in navigating privacy laws and digital risk. That’s opening doors for lawyers to work as in-house advisors, government analysts, and risk management leads in sectors that didn’t previously overlap with law.

There’s also a push toward more mission-driven work. According to SUNY Empire’s Career Hub, law grads are landing in higher ed., advocacy, city planning, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) roles.¹¹

Above the law

Law school isn’t the only route to legal literacy. A growing number of schools now offer specialized certificates in areas like health law, environmental regulation, and international trade.¹² These programs usually take less than a year and cost far less than a Juris Doctor (JD) diploma, otherwise known as a law degree.

These programs are built for professionals who need legal know-how but not the courtroom credentials. Many are offered part-time or online to support working adults. This is part of a larger trend: Legal education is getting more modular, more flexible, and more career-friendly.¹³

Masters in demand

I’s not just law programs seeing renewed interest. Applications to graduate programs across the board are climbing, especially in business, healthcare, and education. Eighty percent of full-time MBA programs reported application growth in 2024 — the highest amount in a decade.¹⁴ Specialized master’s degrees in fields such as accounting, data analytics, and supply chain management are also drawing more attention from early-career professionals looking to stand out.

Even online graduate programs are booming: More than 495,000 students pursued master’s degrees remotely last year — outpacing in-person enrollment by nearly 100,000.¹⁵

The trend points to a bigger picture: When the job market shows signs of uncertainty, more people double down on credentials that offer staying power.

Legal skills to pay the bills

A law degree isn’t a shortcut to success. Getting a JD takes time, money, and focus. But it could be a smart play — not just for financial reasons, but for the clarity it brings in a job market that feels increasingly murky. Legal training builds skills that hold up in nearly any industry: critical thinking, argumentation, precision, and persuasion. It’s a toolkit that travels.

It’s possible that the surge in law school applicants signals a desire for foundation in their careers, not just a diploma or purported guarantee of future success. A law degree may open more doors than it closes. Even if the path isn’t perfectly clear, having a legal degree can go a long way in a variety of fields.