Law, Medical School Groups Face Class Action Antitrust Lawsuits

Two major organizations overseeing law and medical school admissions, the Law School Admission Council and the Association of American Medical Colleges, are facing proposed class action lawsuits alleging they conspired to overcharge applicants by fixing application fees. These lawsuits claim the organizations maintain monopolies and use inflated fees, collecting tens of millions annually, to benefit their member institutions while restricting competition. The medical college association reportedly collects over $50 million yearly, with an average fee of nearly $500 per applicant, while the law school council collects over $30 million. Both organizations deny the allegations, with the medical college association stating its commitment to a fair application process and vowing to defend the lawsuit vigorously. These cases reflect a growing trend of private antitrust lawsuits targeting higher education credentialing bodies. Meanwhile, unrelated to these lawsuits, the High Court has overturned a Federal Court decision expanding contingency fee arrangements for class action law firms, leaving Victoria as the only state permitting such fee schemes and raising the possibility of federal legislation to address conflicting state rules.