Whether you are applying to law school this fall, or in the distant future, here is what you need to know to get ready. By following these seven steps, you will be off to a good start.
Register with LSAC: The Law School Admissions Council (https://www.lsac.org/) is where you will register to take the LSAT, if you take it. It is also the site where you can apply to schools, research schools, upload your letters of recommendation, and do pretty much everything else for law school. You can also see several sample free LSAT exams on the site. LSAC charges some fees involved in the application process; on this site there is also a place to apply for a fee waiver based on financial need.
Perfect your resume: Most law schools allow you to upload a resume with your application. It is similar to a resume you would use to apply for a job. So go to your career services office now, and start to work with them to insure that you have the best possible resume for law school.
Think about your personal statement: Your personal statement is your main essay for law school. You should be able to use it for most, if not all of the schools you apply to. The prompts for this essay are usually very open with no specific topic. Yet, your personal statement is one of the most important and often heavily weighted part of your application. So brainstorm now—what would you choose to write about? Both the writing center at your college and your pre-law advisor can help you talk through potential topics.
Understand the admissions process: Get an overview of the GPA/LSAT score you might need by plugging your numbers into sources such as the LSAC Official Guide to ABA- Approved JD Programs:https://www.lsac.org/choosing-law-school/find-law-school/jd-programs
This chart will show you admissions statistics that could help you decide which schools might be likely schools, target schools and reach schools.
Decide who to ask for recommendations: You will need between two and four letters of recommendation. Law schools value letters from professors. You can also add letters from employers or internship supervisors. So think about who you might ask. If you have not had the opportunity to get to know your professors, because of the pandemic or otherwise, try to go to their office hours. Make sure to allow several weeks for your recommenders to write your letters. I have seen this hold up applications if recommenders do not submit them in a timely manner.
Understand the timing of rolling admissions: The timing of applications to law school can be very different from when you applied to college. Law schools follow a rolling admissions cycle for the most part. They start accepting applications in September. And often accept them until March, April or later. They start to read them as they come in on a rolling basis. So do not wait until the final deadline to apply!
Become an informed consumer: Understand the bar pass and employment rate for recent graduates at each school you apply to. This, and other valuable information, can be found in the ABA Required Disclosure reports. https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/
These reports can also be found on the website of each law school. Every law school must provide this information, which is a treasure trove of statistics about each school and their outcomes.
Hillary Mantis advises pre-law students, law students and lawyers. She is the author of career and admissions books, including The Essential Guide to Law School Admissions.
