(U-WIRE) STORRS, Conn.'A recent study conducted by the test-prep company Kaplan Inc. said that there has been a noticeable change in the number of college graduates applying to different law schools across the country in recent months.
The study also said that law school appears to be on the top of students' lists on what to do after college.
According to the Kaplan study, the economy has played a substantial part in why students are choosing to attend law school. Authors of the study claimed that when the economy is low, like it is presently, more students want to attend law school.
Conversely, when the economy has been high, business school was a better option for students because they had the opportunity to do better financially, the study added.
The study also found that there was an increase by 19 percent of students taking the bar exam from last year.
Albert Chen, executive director of graduate programs for Kaplan, Inc., said that the increase in students taking the exam and applying to law school has to do with graduates noticing the change in the economy.
'Graduates wishing to go to law school largely depends on the economy,' Chen said. 'And also law schools are more stable then business schools right now.'
Chen also said that television lawyers have inspired more people to apply to law schools.
College graduates may be applying to law school with the hope that someday they will be like the lawyers on popular television shows like 'Ally McBeal' and 'The Practice,' he said.
Chen said that the type of fictional excitement television lawyers experience may influence graduates who hope to be like the lawyers they see on television.
Recent Carlton College graduate Ben Russell said he believes any people who attend law school just because they admire fictional characters on television programs are in for a shock.
'People should not attend law school because they see characters acting like lawyers on television,' Russell said, 'Those television shows are total fiction.'
Russell said that he plans to apply to law schools because he thinks he will enjoy law school academically and he will be able to successfully use his law degree for different jobs, like being an attorney or gaining a teaching position.
'Law school acts as an extension of college', Russell said. 'And a degree will open lots of doors.'
