An increasing number of aspiring lawyers are taking the LSAT and doing so because they want to help others.
A record number of lawyer hopefuls took the LSAT and applied to law school during the 2024-2025 cycle, even amid significant changes in law school administration, policies, and caps on federal graduate student loans.
The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) asked test-takers about their motivations for pursuing a legal education and anticipated barriers in attending law school. LSAC recently issued a report with feedback, which included responses from more than 15,000 candidates who took the LSAT between August 2024 and April 2025.
A desire to help others
Altruistic motivations continue to top the list for test-takers, with 49% of candidates citing that they want to “help others” as a reason for wanting to attend law school, and 37% saying they hope to “advocate for social justice.”
While these two also ranked first and second among 2023-2024 candidates, about 20% more test-takers identified helping others as a motivator this year than last, and 30% more selected advocating for social justice.
Financial security also remains significant, with 34% of 2024-2025 test-takers indicating it is their primary motivation versus 17% last year, when LSAC categorized it as “earn a high income.”
“In general, people do not pursue law to get rich; rather, they go to law school for a career that promises financial security and an opportunity to do good in the world,” the report said.
LSAC noted that people wrote that they were inspired to make a positive impact on the world, but also wanted a career that would enable them to own a home, send their kids to college, and earn enough to live comfortably.
Barriers to attending law school
Test takers said the top three things that would prevent them from attending their preferred law school are the overall cost of attendance (55%), not receiving sufficient financial aid (47%), and having to take out too many loans (33%).
Concerns about the cost of attending law school have increased 45% from the 2023-2024 cycle, when 38% of test-takers said cost would prevent them from enrolling in their preferred law school if admitted.
Moreover, just 18% of 2024-2025 test-takers said nothing would stop them from attending their preferred law school if admitted, a 40% decrease from 2023-2024 test-takers.
LSAC found that these impacts are significantly acute in Pell Grant recipients, 59% of whom cited the overall costs of attending law school as being a barrier, compared to 42% of Pell Grant non-recipients.
“Of particular concern is the notion that top law school candidates, especially from under-resourced communities, might not enroll because they can no longer afford to — affecting not just the future composition of the legal profession, but also the availability of lawyers committed to meeting the growing need for access to justice across legal deserts, rural areas, and under-resourced communities,” the report said.
Where law school applicants turn for support
Most test-takers said they seek advice on the law school application process from their peers or friends (44%), an attorney (39%), and/or a family member (32%).
However, LSAC found that 20% of test-takers said they had no one to go to for advice. This rate was higher for test-takers who are racial and ethnic minorities, Pell Grant recipients, and first-generation college graduates.
Candidates who were first-generation college students said they had no one to rely on at rates almost 60% higher than their continuing-generation college graduate peers.
“Applying to law school is a complex process requiring guidance and support systems, which, as these insights reveal, are not equally accessible for all aspiring law students. These differences are opportunities or impact points on the journey where schools and other prelaw stakeholders can integrate solutions that open the doors to the profession,” the report said.
For example, LSAC found that racial and ethnic minority test-takers were more likely to seek out guidance from law school representatives, while white test-takers relied heavily on their personal networks, including peers or friends, attorneys, or family members.
In Illinois, the Illinois Judges Association’s In-School Programs, Lawyers in the Classroom initiatives from the ISBA and CBA, and law school pipeline programs from organizations like Just The Beginning aim to teach grade school and high school students about the legal and judicial systems and expose them to potential legal careers.
If you’re interested in getting involved, please reach out to these organizations or inquire about opportunities at your local bar association.
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