At least four law schools — Albany (from 250 to 230), Creighton (from 155 to 135), Touro (from 280 to 250), Western New England (from 125 to 100) — have announced plans to shrink their incoming 1L classes. These schools say their decisions are based on “morality” in light of the declining job prospects for law grads. John Yoo (UC-Berkeley) disagrees:
The decision to reduce the size of a law school class has little to do with morality (though it may have a lot to do with moralizing) and everything to do with economics. … As the economy contracts, as it has, the economy’s demand for legal services will drop. Fewer students will want to go to law school and will pursue other opportunities. Not to be an elitist, but it is no surprise that lower ranked law schools will be the first ones which will experience the effects and will reduce the size of their classes, or reduce their tuitions, accordingly.
