ABA Legal Education Section Reports Preliminary Data on Non-J.D. Enrollment Growth, 2000-2012

In preliminary data published by the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, enrollment in non-J.D. programs was shown to have "increased markedly since 2000." While first-year enrollment in J.D. programs fell by 8% between 2005 and 2012, enrollment in non-J.D. degree programs, such as an LL.M., increased by 39% for the same period.


Such an increase in enrollments hopefully will result in additional support and opportunities for the students in non-J.D. degree programs. However, the following comment from the ABA's interim consultant on legal education would seem to support the perception that LL.M. programs are largely cash cows for ABA-approved law schools.

 “And as the demand for J.D. degrees slackens, schools are exploring other ways to broaden their revenue base.”  

See the full article here.