Why did legal education grow rapidly around the world after World War II?

Following World War II, legal education experienced rapid global growth driven by several interconnected social, political, and economic factors.1

Key drivers for this expansion include:

• Decolonization: Many nations established new law schools during the post-war decolonization period to help nurture and develop their own national legal systems.1
• Social Movements: Since the 1960s, movements for civil and human rights worldwide, alongside a significant increase in the number of women pursuing higher education and entering the workforce, have spurred demand for legal training.1
• Transitional Regimes: Many countries undergoing political transitions required the creation of new constitutional and legal orders, necessitating a larger body of trained legal professionals.1
• Economic Globalization: The fragmentation of production across different national jurisdictions and the increasing complexity of international business transactions have heightened the need for lawyers, leading to a more transactionally focused approach in legal curricula.1

Additionally, in regions like the former Soviet Union, the post-war period saw a shift toward professionalization, as law schools began producing substantial numbers of trained graduates to fill legal posts previously held by individuals with little or no formal training.2