Applications to law schools have climbed by more than 40% over the past two years even as students and schools grapple with how artificial intelligence will reshape legal work, according to reporting on rising applicant numbers. The increase comes amid tighter student-loan policies and uncertain employment prospects as AI tools threaten to automate tasks historically performed by junior lawyers. Admissions officers and law deans now face a dual challenge: scale programs to meet demand while rethinking curricula to teach AI-savvy legal competencies and to prepare graduates for altered career pathways. The surge pressures law schools on capacity, licensing preparation, and financial aid policies as they weigh long-term job market signals against immediate enrollment gains.