<p>Gee, I would like to believe that people apply to law school because there is still some prestige linked to the profession, diminishing though it may be.</p>
<p>Many folks whose lives have been dramatically and specifically impacted by major laws also are motivated to attend law school; for Black Americans, the Voting Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, etc. come to mind.</p>
<p>Finally, despite shows like the "The Practice" that depict struggling lawyers (not to mention starving legal aid attorneys) the allure of the $$$ for corporate lawyers guarantees that there'll be plenty of applicants to the elite law school for years to come.</p>