Law schools adapt to growing applications and growing influence of AI – InForum

GRAND FORKS — For generations, the path to becoming a lawyer followed a fairly predictable formula: earn a degree, attend law school, pass the bar exam, and begin practicing law. But legal educators and lawyers across the Upper Midwest say the formula is beginning to evolve as law schools adapt to changing workforce demands, new technology and changing expectations of the profession itself.

We are seeing a significant increase in law school applications for the 2026 cycle. According to the Law School Admissions Council , applications are up 12% to 21% year-over-year and more than 38% compared to two years ago. This increase will increase competition for admission while forcing schools to rethink how they prepare students for modern law practice.

At the same time, the legal profession is becoming increasingly diverse in backgrounds and career paths. Lawyers interviewed for this article described dramatically different motivations for entering the field and different ideas about what success as a lawyer looks like.

Some lawyers are drawn to litigation and courtroom advocacy, while others prefer transactional work, which allows for more predictable schedules and long-term client relationships. Riganne Ritterman, a law clerk specializing in German law in Grand Forks, North Dakota, plans to pursue estate planning and contract law after taking the bar exam this summer.

“I decided that some type of trading work might be better for me,” Litterman said. “The great thing about estate planning is that the clients are very appreciative, and you get to work while you work.”

Some are motivated by public service or advocacy. Alena Holmstrom, a commercial litigation attorney and partner at Davenport Evans in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, said she is drawn to the profession because of the opportunity to represent clients in difficult moments.

“What keeps me going is being able to say that I gave my clients the best job possible, regardless of the outcome,” Holmstrom said.

Aidan Getzinger, who followed in his father’s footsteps by attending the University of South Dakota Knudson School of Law and practicing in his hometown of Rapid City, South Dakota, said community impact remains one of the most rewarding aspects of the profession.

“It’s a really rewarding experience to be able to serve the community and help people when they’ve hit rock bottom,” Goetzinger said.

Legal educators say these different career goals are reshaping legal education itself.

“A hundred years ago, law was strictly an apprenticeship,” says Brad Myers, interim dean of the University of North Dakota School of Law. “Law schools began adding experience requirements because companies wanted graduates who were ready to work.”

Experiential learning opportunities such as clinics, internships, moot court programs, and public service placements have become a staple of law school curricula nationwide. Retired Lt. Gen. Darth E. “Del” Crandall Jr. will also begin his term as dean of the UND School of Law on July 1, 2026, as the school continues to expand its leadership and programs during a period of growth.

Changes to the bar exam have also affected the structure of legal education in schools. Historically, law schools focused on preparing students to pass the bar exam, the licensure exam required to practice law in most states. But that approach is starting to change, as schools place more emphasis on practical experience and real-world legal skills. Even if the traditional bar exam remains, the arrival of the next-generation bar exam, scheduled to be phased in starting in 2026, is expected to reshape curricular priorities across the country with an emphasis on legal analysis, practical lawyering skills, and application-based learning rather than rote memorization.

The University of South Dakota recently completed the first year of a five-year pilot program approved by the South Dakota Supreme Court. The Civil Service Pathway Program allows up to 10 law students each year to gain admission to the bar through a supervised civil service route, rather than the traditional bar exam route.

Students in this program must meet all graduation requirements, complete a semester of public service, and be reviewed by the Bar Examination Board. In return, graduates commit to two years of civil service work after graduation.

USD Knudson School of Law Dean Neil Fulton said the program reflects the school’s emphasis on relationships and service. “For us at USD, connectivity is truly at the heart of our identity,” Fulton said. “We are a small school and there are many touchpoints between teachers and students.”

Licensing expectations also continue to vary by state. Practicing attorneys in Minnesota are required to complete 45 continuing legal education (CLE) credit hours every three years, including training in ethics, anti-bias, and mental health. North Dakota requires 36 hours of CLE hours, including ethics credits, while South Dakota does not currently mandate a CLE requirement to maintain the bar.

At the same time, law schools and law firms are grappling with one of the fastest developments in the profession: artificial intelligence. William McGevellan, dean of the University of Minnesota Law School, said AI is already reshaping the practice of law, especially in research-heavy and work-intensive fields.

“AI is going to be very disruptive,” McGevellan said. “We want students to learn to use AI as a tool, not as a crutch.”

According to McGeveran, AI is increasingly being used for tasks such as document review, legal research, and preparing preliminary drafts of briefs and contracts. Some companies are already integrating platforms like Westlaw Advantage and AI-assisted legal research tools into their daily operations.

Still, McGevellan emphasized that many of the core elements of legal work remain human. “AI will never conduct oral arguments, conduct negotiations, advise clients, or deliver bad news to litigants,” he said. “These interpersonal and analytical skills will continue to be needed by lawyers.”

This human-centered focus was a consistent theme among both educators and practicing attorneys we spoke with. Despite advances in technology, changes in licensure pathways, and increased competition for admission, many said the core purpose of the profession remains rooted in service, advocacy, and relationships.

“At the end of the day, law firms still want energetic applicants who want to work hard,” Holmstrom said.

As legal education continues to evolve across the Upper Midwest, law schools increasingly balance traditional legal theory with practical experience, technological adaptation, and public service. The path to becoming a lawyer may no longer be exactly the same as it was a generation ago, but educators and lawyers alike agree that the core mission of the profession remains the same: helping people navigate life’s most important moments.