ABA: Valpo Law enrollment surges; McKinney, ND down; Maurer ticks up

First-year law school enrollment jumped 28 percent this academic year at Valparaiso University Law School, according to data from the American Bar Association.

Valparaiso’s percentage gain was the seventh-greatest among the 199 ABA-accredited institutions for which data was compiled. Valpo was among just 62 accredited law schools that posted enrollment gains. The ABA reported in December that 1L enrollment nationwide declined 8.1 percent in 2013 compared with the prior academic year.

ABA figures released this week show about three-quarters of law schools reported enrollment declines. The number of first-year law students nationwide at accredited institutions fell from 43,155 in 2012 to 39,674 in 2013.

Here are the statistics the ABA reported for Indiana Law schools:

•     Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington: Enrollment rose 2 percent with 205 1Ls in 2013 compared with 201 in 2012.
•     Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, Indianapolis: Enrollment fell 12 percent, with 227 1Ls in 2013 compared with 259 in 2012.
•     Notre Dame Law School: Enrollment declined 8 percent, with 162 1Ls in 2013 compared with 177 in 2012.
•     Valparaiso University Law School: 1L enrollment rose 28 percent, from 163 in 2012 to 208 in 2013.

Among schools reporting the largest declines in first-year students, 13 reported declines of 30 percent or more. Only six reported gains of at least 30 percent.