Applications to the Georgetown University Law Center fell slightly from last year’s numbers, although administrators said that the number of top-tier applicants has risen by 10 percent.

Applications to the Law Center fell 4 percent, from 11,200 to 10,750 – a decrease considerably less severe than the 7 percent* overall drop reported by U.S. law schools this year, according to the Law School Admissions Council. Andy Cornblatt, associate vice president of graduate admissions and enrollment at the Law Center, said that a healthy economy has historically led to fewer law school applications nationwide.

“In this strong economy, college seniors are often getting multiple job offers, people are keeping their own jobs and many are getting more promotions – all of which results in a few less applications to law school,” Cornblatt said.

However, Cornblatt said that this year’s application pool experienced a 10 percent rise in the number of “top applicants.” The deadline for full-time law student applications, which is usually February 1, was extended to March 1 this year.

“The single most important trend is that, while applications are down, the number of top applicants, based on GPA, LSAT scores and several other factors, has increased by 10 percent,” he said.

The Law Center has traditionally led the country in receiving the highest number of law school applications, and Cornblatt said that he is “confident” that Georgetown will be at the top of this category this year. Because the Law Center has not significantly increased its class size, the growth in the number of applications over the past decade has resulted in the selection of more qualified, talented students. Cornblatt attributed this trend to Georgetown’s unique location, reputation and opportunity.

“My best guess is that it is a combination of factors,” Cornblatt said. “It is a combination of this city of Washington, the name of Georgetown and our connection to law and public service that attracts so many people.”

The Law Center offers several application options, including both a binding early decision program and a non-binding early action program in addition to a regular decision option. Applications are estimated to have fallen by 4 percent from last year’s mark in each of these categories.

One unique offering is the Early Assurance Option, which allows Georgetown undergraduates to apply in March of their junior year without having to submit LSAT scores. The purpose of this option, Cornblatt said, is to allow these applicants to bypass one of the major stressors of senior year while helping to retain some of Georgetown’s strongest students.

Cornblatt projected that the number of Early Assurance applications will stay about the same this year.