Law school applications are very straightforward in many ways. You just go to your LSAC account(www.lsac.org) and apply, right?
That is true, and yet, I get so many questions about applying to law school. How many applications should I submit? When should I submit my applications? Should I write an addendum?
Although law school applications are similar to college applications, in some ways they are very different.
In a busy admissions cycle, like the one we are currently in, these questions can produce a lot of anxiety.
Here are answers to some of the most often asked questions.
How many applications should I submit?
Like in undergrad, you probably have a list of safety schools, targets and reach schools. According to national statistics, applicants typically apply to between six to eight schools. I have seen applicants apply to anywhere from one to 20 schools. I personally think that about 10 is usually a solid number of schools to apply to. The answer depends in part on: how much you want to spend on applications, what your GPA and LSAT or other test scores are, and if you are limiting yourself to one region or applying nationwide.
Be aware that some schools do not have separate application fees. You can also request an application fee waiver either formally, or by emailing individual school’s admissions offices and asking if they can waive the fee.
In trying to determine how well your GPA/test scores fit the profile of the school, look at the official data sources. Each law school’s admissions page, or the ABA (American Bar Association) Standard 509 Required Disclosure Report, on every law school’s website, are reliable.
When should I submit my law school applications?
Law schools run on a rolling admissions basis. This differs considerably from undergrad applications. You will see law schools with deadlines ranging from February to July, or beyond, for their regular admissions cycle. You might think it’s totally fine to apply on the actual deadline. While you can, strategically you will want to try to apply much earlier. Law schools are reading applications as they come in. It could be more difficult to get in, or to get scholarship money in a busy admissions cycle if you wait until the deadline. I usually tell my applicants to apply by Thanksgiving at the latest, ideally.
Should I submit an addendum? What about all the optional essays?
An addendum is one of the optional essays that law schools will accept. It is an opportunity to explain something in your application, such as a semester of low grades, or a less than stellar LSAT score. Generally, the addendum is very short compared to a personal statement. It can even be a paragraph or two. For example, if you had the flu when you took the LSAT, or during your finals week, you could explain that in an addendum. Unless you have specific reasons to cite to, though, an addendum may be unnecessary.
Another option is to only submit the addendum to schools where your numbers are considerably below the medians. For the other optional essays, ideally, you would write them, especially for schools that are of particular interest to you.
This does create more work, but I’ve seen submitting them really help applicants in the admissions process.
Still confused about a specific application question? Admissions officers are much more accessible than you might think. Look to see if they have zoom admissions office hours, which many law schools now offer. If not, feel free to reach out to them directly.
Hillary Mantis is a private law school admissions consultant and career counselor who has been working with prelaw students, law students and lawyers for more than 20 years. She is the author of several career and admissions books. Questions? Write to her at Hillary.mantis@yahoo.com.
