How Do I Apply to Law School?

Law school and the legal profession are nebulous concepts for most people. The law school application process that you will complete as an applicant is somewhat analogous to what you will be doing as a law student. You will research the issue, you will analyze the results of your research, and you will reach a conclusion.

An attorney has power and position, and thus great responsibility. You are about to embark upon a process that is just the beginning of a lifetime of continued legal education. The law is an ever changing body of statutes and court opinions. You must become socially aware and involved in your community. Today, we face problems that are different from those faced in the past; the problems of the future will be different from those faced today; none are less important than the others.


The application process must be taken seriously and applicants should investigate all options available to them. Fortunately, there are many sources of information for prospective law students to use. See Chapter 2, particularly the schedule of Law School Forums for 2003.

LSATS and CPAS

Each applicant to law school is required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The LSAT is administered four times per year, typically June, October, December, and February. For most law schools the LSAT is one of the most important factors in determining entrance as it is a common denominator for every applicant.

In determining whether a particular application is appropriate, law school representatives will release median numbers. Applicants should know that a median means the middle score. Therefore, there are students enrolled with numbers above and below the median. In addition, should the school release average numbers, it would be the sum of the scores divided by the number of enrolled students. Finally, applicants should recognize that the median for the accepted group of students to a particular school is typically higher than the median for the actual enrolled group for that school. For example, if a law school admitted five students with LSAT scores of 180, 172, 151, 148, 143, their median LSAT would be a 151. By way of contrast, the average LSAT would be a 159. If only the bottom three students enrolled, however, the median would be 148, and the average would be.

It would appear to be a rather simple matter to compare law schools based on their medians if that were the only criteria used in admission. However, an applicant's undergraduate career typically plays an equally important role in the decision process. A student's academic record must be analyzed very carefully. Factors such as school(s) attended, classes taken, major, minor, number of hours worked while in school, as well as grade progression are all important factors. Therefore, applicants should acknowledge particular strengths in their academic performance, and point out events such as a change of major that may have had a significant impact on the progression of grades.

Factors to Consider

Choosing a law school is a complex process. You must analyze your own needs and desires. You should consider the atmosphere in which you function well, the location, the reputation, the support services, housing options, financial aid packages, placement opportunities, faculty, student body characteristics, activities, and library facilities. Each will be more or less important to each individual.

Are you the happiest in an urban, suburban, or rural area? Is the prestige value of the institution you attend of great importance to you? Do you do best where there is a fair degree of interaction between you and your faculty members? Do you want to attend a large school or a small school? (Keep in mind that a law school with over 1,000 students is considered large.) Do you need a nearby support system of family and friends? Is cost important to you? This list of questions barely scratches the surface. Be honest with yourself in order to assess what law school best suits your needs.

As you begin to review the catalogs, keep in mind the factors that are most important to you. However, remember that you shouldn't base your decision solely on the availability of certain elective courses. Your interest may change once you're in law school.

Review the faculty. Do they come from a wide range of schools? Do they have advanced degrees? Have they clerked for a judge or worked in a law firm? Are there women and members of minority groups on the faculty? Do they teach the substantive required courses? There are no right or wrong answers to these and other questions. But the answers to these and other questions you pose will give you a better picture of the law school.

Next, review the student organizations as they can enrich your legal education experience. The variety and types available will give you a sense of the student body at that given law school.

Review the law school career services office. What type of services do they offer? What type of jobs do the graduates take? Where geographically are they employed? Are you able to speak to alumni who practice in various areas of the law, e.g., environmental, health, criminal, etc.?

The catalog will also give detailed information on the library: the number of volumes, the advanced technology available, and any specialized collections unique to the school. Most law school libraries have access to the national legal data bases, and law school students are trained to use this valuable research tool.

Items such as faculty-to-student ratio, the ratio of library seats to students, or the number of volumes in the library are factors that are scrutinized by the American Bar Association (ABA). All ABA-approved law schools must meet or exceed national standards as determined by the ABA. (Profiles of ABA-approved law schools appear in Chapters 12 and 13 of this Guide).

At this point the question of attending a non- ABA-approved school may be raised and the answer generally is no. There are some non- ABA-approved law schools that are accredited in their own state. Graduates of state certified schools are usually eligible to take the bar exam in that state. However, problems arise when one of these graduates wants to practice law in another state. The state board of bar examiners in each state sets the requirements for admission to practice in their state as there is no national bar exam. The graduate of a non-ABA-approved law school will find that it is difficult, if not impossible, to get admitted to the bar of any other state. (For more information, see Chapter 14 of this Guide.)

The number of law schools remaining after this cursory review is probably still too large a number for you to consider applying to all. Therefore, look closely at the schools that meet your needs, based on the preliminary information you have gathered. How well do you match up with the profile of these law schools' most recent incoming class? What are the medians of the schools in which you are interested and how do your numerical predictors match up with their numbers?

It may appear that applicants are judged only on the numbers; however, most law schools consider many other aspects of the application as discussed earlier. Applicants must recognize that the LSAT and GPA are the most common factors to each applicant, thus placing everyone at a starting point or on a level playing field. Other factors then become important, such as major, undergraduate institution, advanced degrees, and leadership roles in community or within extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, and the personal essay.

Most applicants submit anywhere from five to seven applications to various law schools. Applying to one law school is probably unwise; likewise, applying to 100 law schools is not necessary and is very expensive.

Filling out the Application

Once you have identified the schools you will be applying to, you must complete the applications in a timely manner. Applicants must read the instructions for each school carefully. Complete all questions that are not identified as optional and provide explanations where necessary. Any questions labeled "optional" may be left blank.

If you do not have access to a typewriter or word processor, the law school application may be printed clearly. Remember to make copies of each application that is submitted. An increasing number of schools allow you to apply on-line through their web sites. If you are connected to the Internet at your school this option may make sense for you. In addition, applications may be completed by utilizing school specific on-line applications or the LSACD. Produced by Law Services, the LSACD is a Windows(r) compatible, Interactive multimedia CD-ROM. All ABA-approved law schools are included in the LSACD's fully searchable database and easy- to-use application forms.

The Personal Statement

Most law schools in the country do not interview candidates for admission. Therefore, your personal statement is the only place in which you are able to sell yourself to the law school. This may be the only opportunity that the committee has to get to know the person behind the application. It is an opportunity for you to respond to questions you think the admissions committee may have when they review your application and academic record. It is the place to express who you are and what is important to you. You may wish to emphasize any personal or professional experiences and how they have contributed to your growth and/or personal development. Examples of items that applicants might consider including are: a description of work experience and extracurricular activities; explanation of distinct trends or discrepancies among grades; a description of substantial time commitments while attending school; verification that standardized tests have under-predicted academic performance in the past (prior test scores should be provided); cultural, ethnic, educational, or other factors that might cause the LSAT score or GPA to be an inaccurate measure of potential for law study. In addition, you may wish to mention the fact that you are the first member of the family to graduate from college, or you may wish to explain hardships or handicaps that you have overcome in order to achieve your degree.

The personal statement is a case that you have made for yourself to the admissions committee. Above all, it must be typed carefully and accurately. Correct spelling and grammar are essential.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation can be very helpful to the admissions committee. For recent graduates (within two years), at least one faculty appraisal is preferred. Other applicants who would find it difficult to obtain faculty appraisals may request recommendations from individuals who can appraise their ability to perform in law school. Where an institution has a central file for appraisals that are duplicated as needed, or where a committee provides a composite appraisal, typically these alternative procedures are acceptable.

Applicants who have been out of school for a number of years should seek letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to the applicant's character, leadership abilities, and analytical skills. The quality of the recommendation and content are more important than who writes the letter.

Letters of recommendation are additional pieces of evidence that support your case for admission. Many law schools utilize standard recommendation forms in lieu of or in addition to letters. If the school provides such forms, make sure that your references are complete, and then return them.

Most law schools will be utilizing a new service offered by Law Services that will require your letters to be submitted through the LSDAS letter of recommendation service that serves all member schools. The service is included in your LSDAS registration subscription. Your letters will be copied and sent to law schools along with your LSDAS report, or as received. To use this service, follow the directions for submitting letters outlined in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book. Be sure to fill out and give each letter writer a letter of recommendation form from the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book.

Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines

All law schools specify deadlines for submission of the application materials to their institution. However, you should begin to explore your options in your junior year of college. This allows you enough time to narrow your choices, gather the appropriate information, and be prepared to submit timely applications in the fall of your senior year. Even if you later decide to work for a period of time after graduation, you keep your choices open by starting early.

First, determine when you are going to take the LSAT exam. Registration materials are available through Law Services. Almost all ABA-approved law schools require the use of the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), and, therefore, upon registration for the exam, you should register simultaneously for the service. This service analyzes your transcript (you must have one sent to Law Services from each undergraduate institution you have attended) and submits a report of your undergraduate record along with your LSAT score and an unofficial copy of your transcript to the law schools you have indicated.

Send the transcript to Law Services once all your junior year courses have been completed. Typically, upward grade trends occur after the first year of college. Some law schools may even require fall grades in your senior year if a significant trend is noted.

The registration date for the LSAT should be made individually by each applicant. Since test preparation is essential, you should allow adequate time to properly prepare for the test. There are many commercial preparation courses, various books such as Barron's How to Prepare for the LSAT, as well as preparation materials through Law Services. (See also Chapters 10 and 11 of this Guide.)

You should be prepared the first time you sit for the exam; never enter the exam with the thought of it being a dry run. Since most law schools average repeated scores, multiple test scores can hurt your application.

The Waiting Period

When all the appropriate materials are filed with the admissions office, you begin a waiting period. The decision-making process takes time.

Once an application is received, the office of admissions opens a file on you, requests the LSDAS report, and, when all materials are received, reviews your application. The process may be held up if, for example, you have left blank questions on the application that were not marked "optional," or do not file a fee with the application, or do not sign the application form.

When you are notified that the file is complete and ready for review by the admissions committee, the process may take anywhere from two weeks to two months. Patience is essential; however, if you have not heard anything from a law school, do not hesitate to contact that school. You may be missing vital information, or your correspondence may have been delayed by the mail.

Every school employs a slightly different approach to making admissions decisions and notifying applicants of their acceptance. Many schools employ automatic acceptance and rejection categories for very high or low LSAT scores and GPA's. Most applicants fall somewhere in the middle, and their applications are reviewed more carefully by the admissions committee. Some schools may send out all acceptance letters at one time, while others notify applicants as decisions are made. Although the notification process may begin prior to January 1 of the academic year preceding admission, most applicants will hear from law schools between February and April. Later decisions may occur for students who are included on a waiting list, from which they are drawn if other accepted students decide not to matriculate at the school. Waiting list decisions may be made as late as August.

A few schools offer conditional summer programs for students with marginal credentials. Typically, the final decision for these applicants is made on the basis of their performance in the summer courses. Although the experience of attending such programs is good preparation for law school itself, ABA standards do not permit schools to give law school credit for pre-admission work.

The admissions office at the schools to which you apply will be able to explain the idiosyncrasies of their procedures, and keep you advised on the progress of your application. Don't call them every day, however, because excessive phone calls actually slow down the admissions process. Use common sense in deciding whether to call for assistance and information.

The Final Decision

Once the admissions committee reaches a final decision, you must begin your decision making process. Try to visit the law schools to which you have been accepted. (Please note that most schools will require a deposit no earlier than April but as early as two weeks after your offer of admission is made. Therefore, visiting schools should begin as early as the application process does, if possible.)

A visit might include attendance at a first year class, or a meeting with current students and/or a member of the faculty. You will not have to spend much time at a law school to get a feel for its atmosphere and personality.

Cost is always an issue, and you should recognize the need to submit the required financial aid forms in a timely manner. The submission of financial aid forms (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) does not have an impact on the admission decision. The filing of the appropriate forms should be completed at the time of application to the individual schools or as late as March 15. If all the appropriate financial aid materials have been submitted, a law school should be able to provide you with a financial aid package at the time of acceptance, allowing you to make an educated decision.