The Mismatch Hypotheses in Law School Admissions

Widener Journal of Law, Economics & Race, May 2011

45 Pages Posted: 30 Apr 2014

See all articles by Darrell Jackson

Darrell Jackson

University of Wyoming - College of Law

Gregory Camilli

University of Colorado at Boulder

Chu Chia-Yi

Independent

Ann Gallagher

Law School Admission Council

Date Written: May 3, 2011

Abstract

The match effects for five different student populations (Native American, Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White) are gathered and analyzed to determine whether these effects provide support for the match hypotheses with respect to law school grades, graduation, and bar passage. While some evidence was found supporting the negative match hypothesis for Black and Asian law school students in the lower propensity range, the match effects for bar passage in the upper range were much lower than Richard Sander‘s reports, and did not approach statistical significance. Moreover, no negative match effects for graduation were apparent. Thus, the bar passage rates difference seems very modest relative to the substantial social networking advantages of elite school attendance. Because the variables most strongly associated with higher levels of leadership are attainment of a bachelor‘s (B.A.) degree at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton; and attainment of a law degree, the implication is that leadership potential, which may fall outside the bounds of traditional admission criteria, is more suitably described as a benefit to society. Even Sander noted that he did not consider perhaps the single greatest benefit of affirmative action in law school: its role in building the long-term careers of Black lawyers, placing them in the most elite ranks of the profession and American society.

Keywords: mismatch, law school admissions, race, affirmative action, statistical analysis, quantitative analysis, Richard Sander, African American, Black

JEL Classification: J71, J78, K00, K30, K40,

Suggested Citation

Jackson, Darrell and Camilli, Gregory and Chia-Yi, Chu and Gallagher, Ann, The Mismatch Hypotheses in Law School Admissions (May 3, 2011). Widener Journal of Law, Economics & Race, May 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2399731

Darrell Jackson (Contact Author)

University of Wyoming - College of Law ( email )

1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3035
Laramie, WY 82071
United States
(307) 766-2899 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uwyo.edu/law/directory/darrell-jackson.html

Gregory Camilli

University of Colorado at Boulder ( email )

1070 Edinboro Drive
Boulder, CO 80309
United States

Chu Chia-Yi

Independent ( email )

Ann Gallagher

Law School Admission Council ( email )

662 Penn Street
Newtown, PA 18940-0040
United States

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