It is May and you are planning to apply to law school in the upcoming cycle. What should you be doing now?
This is the perfect time to start to work on your law school applications, if you haven’t already started. Applications won’t formally open until September at most law schools. But there is a lot you can work on now.
Here’s the breakdown to give you an idea of what you can be doing to stay on track.
What you can do this spring
If you haven’t already done so, figure out exactly when you will take the LSAT (or GRE or JD-Next, if you’re taking that route instead). Look on www.lsac.org for the LSAT administration schedule. Make an account on LSAC if you don’t already have one, as you will be applying to law school through that website.
Set up a study schedule for your upcoming standardized tests, allowing several months to prep and take practice tests. I recommend three to six months to study for the LSAT, although it varies tremendously from person to person how much time you will need. Consider choosing Score Preview when you register for the LSAT, so you can decide whether to report your score. Build time for at least one retake, so you will have plenty of time to improve your score, if needed.
The key to feeling calm during this whole application process is to leave yourself a lot of time for each step. Start to research law schools on www.lsac.org , on the individual law school websites and through the American Bar Association Standard 509 Disclosure Reports, which give statistical information on employment rates, bar pass rates, merit scholarships and other extremely valuable information.
What you can do this summer
Continue to study for the LSAT — by now you may have already taken it. Take as many timed practice tests as possible (the LSAC platform Law Hub is a great resource).
Start to draft your main personal statement. Brainstorm topics and start to get an outline and a draft written over the summer. The law schools will formally open applications in September and you will be able to see their additional optional essays then — but the main personal statement can be drafted now. It’s crucial, in my opinion, to spend a lot of time perfecting your personal statement — it is a very important part of your overall application.
This is a very good time to also update your resume so it’s ready to go. Add your summer job or internship, update activities add law-related and/or leadership experience. Go to your university career services office or prelaw advisor and have them review it for you. These days, as hiring of law students has moved to an earlier schedule, it is important now, more than ever, to start law school with a good resume.
What you can do this fall
It’s prime time — applications are open in September. You can look at the applications. You can even start to apply. Because law schools operate on a rolling admissions basis, I recommend that you try to submit all of your applications by Thanksgiving, even though the actual deadlines are much later. This may work to your benefit. However, I do not think you need to rush to apply when applications open.
Take time to perfect your personal statement and your resume. Start to work on all of the optional essays that each school offers. Retake the LSAT if you are taking it more than once. I recommend trying to wrap up the LSAT by the October test, if possible, to give yourself time to submit your applications prior to Thanksgiving.
If you have not already done so, ask your professors and former internship supervisors for recommendations. Rather than just sending them the recommendation link from LSAC, meet with them to tell them more about why you are applying to law school and what law schools interest you. Give your recommenders a deadline. Politely continue to follow up with them to make sure that they have submitted your recommendations. If your recommendations are done, you are satisfied with your test scores and have completed your essays — go for it and submit your applications! Hopefully by Thanksgiving you will be able to submit and take some time to relax.
What you can do this winter and beyond
Continue to take opportunities to network with law schools even after you have submitted your applications. Start to visit law schools if you have not had time to do so. Attend admitted student days in the spring as you start to hear the good news about where you have been accepted. This is your time to ask any questions you have about each school. Meet with their financial aid offices for assistance understanding aid and scholarships. Keep in touch with schools where you have been waitlisted; they will admit applicants all the way up until the first week of classes if spots open.
Most importantly, get yourself ready mentally for law school during this time. Take plenty of time to relax so that you will be ready to have a successful 1L year of law school. You worked hard for this — enjoy it!
Hillary Mantis consults with law school applicants and is the author of several books about law school admissions and careers for lawyers. Admissions questions? You can write to Hillary at Hillary.mantis@yahoo.com
