Kaplan Survey: Law Schools Concerned about Class Diversity, Amid Affirmative Action Ban Fallout
January 22 2024 - 8:55AM
Business Wire
Results from Kaplan’s 2023 law school admissions officers find
that last year’s Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action
in admissions is causing consternation about their ability to
create a racially diverse student body*. The positive news though
is that according to new data from the Law School Admission
Council, the current national law school applicant pool includes
more than 43 percent people of color — the highest percentage on
record, although the cycle isn’t over yet. Among the findings from
the Kaplan survey, which includes responses from 85 law
schools:
How concerned are you that the Supreme Court’s decision to
ban race-conscious admissions policies may impact your school's
ability to create a racially diverse student body? (Numbers below
reflect raw count of schools, not percentages)
- Very concerned: 18
- Somewhat concerned: 32
- Neutral: 8
- Somewhat unconcerned: 6
- Very unconcerned: 14
- Not sure/Don't know: 7
And what about the impact on diversity in law schools across
the nation, as a whole? (Numbers below reflect raw count of
schools, not percentages)
- Very concerned: 46
- Somewhat concerned: 28
- Neutral: 6
- Somewhat unconcerned: 0
- Very unconcerned: 2
- Not sure/Don't know: 3
While the Kaplan survey found that almost universally law
schools say that diversity is important to administrators and
students alike, one admissions officer who participated warned that
the Court’s decision will have a “chilling effect on
applications.”
"In the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action,
Kaplan’s survey reveals that law schools are grappling with
concerns about maintaining diverse student bodies, which is
something many of them have long prioritized. However, the silver
lining lies in the promising trend of an increasingly diverse
applicant pool, which presents an opportunity to mitigate any
challenges they may face in achieving a representative student
body," said Amit Schlesinger, executive director of legal and
government programs, Kaplan. “It’s also important to note that
while law schools can no longer explicitly use race as a factor, we
know that some law schools have broadened their personal statement
criteria, which may give admissions officers a deeper understanding
of prospective students’ backgrounds, while also remaining within
the bounds of the Court’s ruling.”
Schlesinger points out that in 2023, law schools enrolled their
most diverse matriculating classes on record, at 40 percent
students of color, their third straight year of record diversity.
“It’s unlikely this streak will continue given the Court’s
decision, but law schools will likely do their best to stem the
bleeding, while not violating the ruling.”
To speak with a Kaplan law school admissions expert, contact
russell.schaffer@kaplan.com.
*Admissions officers from 85 of the nation’s 196 American Bar
Association-accredited law schools were polled by e-mail and phone
between August and November 2023. Among the 85 law schools that
participated are 22 of the top 50, as ranked by U.S. News &
World Report.
About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps
individuals and institutions advance their goals in an
ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students
and professionals further their education and careers, universities
and educational institutions attract and support students, and
businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and
development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a
mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all
backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 26
countries continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about 1.2
million students and professionals, 13,000 corporate clients, and
4,000 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities
worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company
(NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.
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Press: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com,
917.822.8190 Twitter: @KaplanEdNews
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