Here are a few of the most important news stories you need to know from the past week.
For the last decade, AALS has kept the legal academy and supporters informed with our weekly Legal Education News Digest and Blogs Digest. These digests track important developments in legal education, the legal profession, and higher education on the federal level. They also highlight new programs, collaborations between schools, milestones, faculty accomplishments, awards, clinical activities, and conferences/events. Sign up to receive these digests by email.
Law schools can share news and updates with the editors of the weekly digest here.
AALS Legal Education News Digest – Week Ending April 10, 2026
AALS Legal Education Blogs Digest – Week Ending April 10, 2026
Top stories from the past week include:
- A recent study has found that law degrees increase earnings for graduates by about 59% on average. The study also found that school prestige does have an impact on income as graduates from higher-ranked programs earned more on average than their peers. (Reuters)
- Although U.S. law schools enrolled their largest first-year class in years, the share of first-generation college graduates decreased for the second year in a row according to a Law School Admission Council report. LSAC warned that this trend is likely due to growing financial barriers and changes to federal student loan policies impacting applicants from low-income families. The report also found a slight decrease in racial and ethnic diversity, but an increase in gender-diversity and LGBTQ+ student representation. (ABA Journal)
- More students are receiving time accommodations for the bar exam, with about one in eight test-takers in California and more than one in seven in Washington, DC, now receiving them. This increase mirrors the general growth in diagnoses for disorders like ADHD as well as changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act. While many recognize the need for disability accommodations, some experts have expressed concern that some students could exploit the system. (ABA Journal)
- Other legal education stories:
- AI startups compete to recruit law students. (Reuters)
- Jason Kreag appointed dean of University of Arizona Law. (The University of Arizona)
- Podcast: Financial planning advice for law students and young lawyers. (JD Supra)
Higher Education
- New federal policy changes could make the Public Service Loan Forgiveness student loan buyback option more expensive. The PSLF allows borrowers to “buyback” missed eligible monthly payments, but since the Trump administration has eliminated more affordable repayment programs, the cost to buyback these payments has risen exponentially for some borrowers. (CNBC)
- A national study tracking student voter turnout has been halted after the Trump administration launched an investigation into alleged student data privacy violations. The data showed the differences between community college and four-year institution student voting records and provided insight into how to better engage young voters. As the study has been shut down, colleges will not have access to updated voter turnout data and experts are worried that this could cause a decrease in campus civic engagement efforts. (NPR)
- The Trump administration has proposed overhauling higher education accreditation by requiring accreditors to set minimum standards for student achievement, protect viewpoint diversity, and factor in cost efficiency when evaluating colleges. The plan would also require compliance with federal laws barring race-based preferences in admissions. (Inside Higher Ed)
Law School Programs, Clinics and Milestones
- Boston University Law students provide more than 5,100 hours of legal services for nonprofit organizations. (Bostonia)
- Duke Law students receive grant to study land disputes in Oaxaca, Mexico. (Duke Law News)
- Fordham Law Neuroscience and Law Center celebrates 10th anniversary. (Fordham Law News)
- Northeastern Law Center for Global Law and Justice files United Nations brief. (Northeastern University School of Law)
- University of Utah Law Environmental Justice Clinic partners with Navajo Nation on water settlement agreement. (The University of Utah)