ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri law schools expect fewer students in the fall after several years of significant enrollment growth both regionally and nationally.

The University of Missouri’s flagship campus in Columbia has received 17 percent fewer applications this year. Applications at Washington University dropped 13.3 percent, while St. Louis University is seeing a nearly 20 percent decline.

A national group that tracks law school enrollment says that applications are down more than 10 percent overall compared to this time last year.

The economic downturn means that law school graduates can no longer count on landing lucrative jobs straight out of college. The declining interest comes one year after many schools reported record enrollment.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press