When Apply Law School
As late applications to law school can still increase your odds of admission and scholarships, especially at “reach” schools, applying in September/October will have decreased considerably.
Research schools, take (or retake) the LSAT exam, update your resume and begin working on personal statements/application essays.
Start Your Research
When applying to law school, research your options as soon as possible. Brainstorm the criteria that matter most and then use legal databases, guidebooks, or even Google to find schools that fit them. Attend law school admissions fairs or forums related events so you can learn more about academics, culture and networks at these institutions.
Start by reviewing the application requirements for each school you want to apply to, including essay prompts. Some schools have specific essay questions while others offer more general prompts. Once you’ve identified schools you want to apply to, begin creating your resume and researching how LSAC (Law School Application Service) handles sending transcripts for law school application services like LSAC (the Law School Application Service).
Additionally, think carefully about how to articulate your goals in your personal statement. Many law schools ask applicants why they want to become lawyers; you’ll need to respond directly and convincingly without falling back on cliches, overstated details or excessive use of creative writing in your essay. Likewise, consider how your experiences and interests align with those of the school.
If you plan on applying to law school using an early decision program, begin discussing this matter with the admissions office of your top choice school as early as possible. This step is especially crucial if you require scholarships or grants in order to pay for your law degree.
Your next step should be identifying potential recommenders. Law schools require two to three letters of recommendation from professors or professionals who can vouch for your academic abilities and work ethic; professors might make great recommenders! You should also think about any unique circumstances you can discuss such as overcoming personal obstacles that could make your application stand out, giving them enough time to craft letters before the deadline arrives.
Take the LSAT
Doing well on the LSAT requires considerable dedication, so selecting a timeframe that will enable you to devote sufficient effort without becoming overshadowed by other academic or work obligations is paramount.
The LSAT measures your reading, writing and analytical reasoning abilities. Additionally, there is one 35-minute unscored writing section which you can schedule yourself using LSAC’s proctoring software.
To improve your chances of admission to your preferred law school, achieving an upper range score on your LSAT examination is necessary. To accomplish this goal, spending several months preparing will be necessary; begin by familiarizing yourself with its content and strategizing; after this has been done take several practice tests to see where your score stands.
Once you understand what the test measures, it’s time to search for law schools offering your dream program and attend information sessions. To make this less daunting, create a system – perhaps by way of spreadsheet – for tracking applications and deadlines so you can stay on top of everything.
As law school application season commences, you should begin reaching out to professors and other individuals who could write letters of recommendation for you. Your undergraduate instructors may provide this support; but think also about professional mentors who might offer more.
Those intending to go directly from undergraduate studies to law school should take the LSAT in June of their junior year; this will give you the best chance of having all necessary application materials by November or December. Applicants who intend to finish an unfinished undergraduate degree may find September-November exam dates suitable; be sure to call any schools you’re interested in to confirm this option before taking an LSAT test in January; this may delay submission until February or March at best.
Request Letters of Recommendation
An effective application relies on letters of recommendation from professors, employers, or community leaders who can give insight into your experience and abilities. While obtaining such letters from friends or family may be possible, law schools tend to prefer those from people who have taught you directly or supervised you at work or participated in your extracurricular activities. When asking someone for such a recommendation it’s advisable to make your request well in advance allowing enough time for them to craft an honest and thorough letter in response to it.
Revamp your resume to include relevant experiences or accomplishments that might otherwise go undetected by standard lists of qualifications found in most applications – this will create an eye-catching first impression with admissions committee members.
Law school applications usually require you to submit transcripts from all institutions attended, so it is a good idea to send these off early so they can be processed by LSAC before your deadlines arrive.
Begin cultivating relationships with potential letter writers early, which allows you to have genuine discussions with them about your application plans and why you’ve asked for their letters of recommendation. Although professors can often write these letters for any student who puts in effort, stronger letters come from genuine relationships built with letter writers.
Ask potential letter writers whether they would be comfortable waiving their right to view your application prior to submission; this means sending their letter directly to law schools without seeing it first. Often this gesture is appreciated.
Once your exams have wrapped up, start filling out law school applications carefully and meticulously, editing each one carefully before submission to LSAC by the beginning of October. Otherwise, by November or later you could find yourself overwhelmed with applications, leaving little time or resources for thoughtful consideration of yours.
Apply
Your application provides admissions committees with an opportunity to assess you and assess your potential as a lawyer. To maximize this process, it requires considerable time commitment: from studying for the LSAT to creating your personal statement and resume to requesting letters of recommendation and visiting schools – the key is starting early and working hard until submission deadlines.
Applying early gives you plenty of time to review your work and upload all documents properly, unlike applying last minute, when rush marks might force applicants into careless mistakes or incomplete uploads that jeopardise their chances for admission to law school.
Start building genuine relationships with professors so they can write letters of recommendation on your behalf and help write compelling essays and stand out among a pool of applicants. Show professors you are an honest student they can count on to attend class regularly and excel academically in their classes.
Experienced applicants have an advantage in conveying their unique experiences and perspectives in the application. Assuming leadership roles, volunteering non-academically, engaging in music, art, or travel hobbies and hobbies all add value to your application; all while keeping true to yourself. Focus on what drives you, rather than becoming part of politics or saving the world; emphasize what skills these experiences have provided to help prepare for law school studies.
Additionally, many schools will interview selected candidates. Interviews may take place virtually or in person and provide another way for applicants to distinguish themselves from other applicants. It is advisable for students to aim to interview with at least 15 schools.
Law school admissions decisions don’t tend to come out all at once like undergraduate admissions decisions do, meaning applying early can give you a better chance at being admitted – particularly to top tier schools.
