International students have become an increasingly important component of student bodies and budgets at U.S. law schools over the past decade, but the COVID-19 pandemic appears likely to shut off—or at least dramatically narrow—that pipeline for the coming academic year.

The desire and ability of foreign lawyers to enroll in the LL.M. programs that have proliferated in recent years, alongside that of international students who pursue J.D.s, is one of many question marks currently hanging over law school admissions. (The Law School Admission Council has canceled its March and April LSAT administrations and is planning an at-home exam in May.)