LAWRENCE, Kansas (AP) – The University of Kansas Law School says its applications declined 23 percent for this year compared with last year.

Law school officials say the decline in admissions is part of a national trend caused by a difficult legal job market. About 850 students applied to the law school this year, down from about 1,100 last year.

Stephen Mazza, law school dean, says nearly every law school in the country is reporting a drop in applications. He says the national average decline was 12 percent to 13 percent, although he says it’s probably increased since then.

Mazza tells The Lawrence Journal-World that the law school plans to hire a new director of admissions to replace one who resigned. It also will hire an assistant director and a seasonal recruiter.