Application Process

As soon as you have determined that law school is for you, begin thinking about the application process. Make a timeline for yourself, taking into consideration all your other obligations, work habits, and time constraints. You should count on starting early, and allowing plenty of time to assemble an application that represents you well and shows you in the best light. Most law schools’ application deadlines are in February or March, but their application becomes available as early as September or October. Because many law schools have a “rolling admission,” your chances of being accepted, as well as of receiving financial aid, are higher earlier in the application cycle

Admission Criteria

Law schools will select their incoming class based on their own set of criteria. All law schools want students who are academically highly capable and who are likely to continue to excel in law school and beyond. LSAT scores and Undergraduate Grade Point Averages (GPA) are considered predictive in this respect, and are two of the factors used in the various rankings of law schools. Whether they like it or not, law schools are subject to reporting the scores of their incoming classes and their median scores do have an effect on their standing and reputation. Exactly how schools use the LSAT and GPA score of a candidate when evaluating her application varies from school to school. Your job is to do as well as you can on the LSAT, and to keep up your GPA to maximize your chances of getting in where you want.

Other criteria that law schools will consider in the admissions process are your transcript(s), your work and life experience, the diversity that you will bring to the student body, the quality of your application essay, and your recommendation letters. Just as you look for a good fit between yourself and a law school, so will law schools, using selection criteria that make good sense to them.

Application Timeline

Take a look at our suggested application timeline. You should develop your own at least 9 to 12 months before applying to law school.

Winter/Spring

• Prepare for the LSAT, take June LSAT.
• Tap professors and others who know you well (supervisors, employers) for letters of recommendation.

Summer

• Research law schools, make “long list.” Once you receive your LSAT scores, make a “short list” of schools to apply to.
• Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), begin sending in transcripts and recommendations as they become available.
• Look at individual law schools’ applications.
• Begin drafting personal statements. Allow plenty of time to write multiple drafts. Make sure that you carefully follow the instructions in each law school’s application materials.
• Construct a law school resume.
• Request more letters of recommendation, if needed.

September/October

• Speak to your law school advisor, discussing your application strategy. Have your law school advisor review your application essays, resume, and any other application materials you have questions about.
• Visit a law school forum, talk to the admissions representatives of the schools you are considering.
• Begin submitting applications to your “short-listed” schools.

November

• If you submitted applications in October, contact law schools that did not send you an application receipt.
• Secure financial aid forms. Take note of financial aid application deadlines.

December

• If you submitted applications in November, contact law schools that did not send you an application receipt.

January

• If you submitted applications in December contact law schools that did not send you an application receipt.
• Submit your financial aid applications.
• When your fall semester transcript becomes available have it sent to LSDAS

Spring

• If you are on a waiting list, or having trouble deciding between two offers of admission, set up an appointment with your pre-law advisor.
• Let us know how you fared in the application process! We want to know about you success. If you didn’t have any luck this year, please let us know that too. We are here to help you discuss alternative plans/application strategy for next year.