Getting into Law School

There are many good reasons to go to law school. A legal career offers clean, challenging, and prestigious work; a chance to help others; and, yes, the possibility-though not the certainty-of making a lot of money. Law school can lead to a political career, to power, and to a place in history. For a few, it can lead to fame in the world of entertainment and professional sports; for others, it represents the first step toward a good government job or a career in higher education. For still others, law school is a good starting place for a career in the business world.

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Since you are reading this article, I will assume that you have already heard these good reasons, and that you have made up your mind that you want to go to law school. I will guide you through the long and tedious application process. At each stage, I will explain what you must do, help you develop strategies for doing it, and give you some tips on presenting yourself in the most attractive way possible. I will lead you, line by line, through the various forms you will have to fill out, and warn you about traps and pitfalls that have harmed previous applicants.

It wasn't always that difficult. As recently as 1983, about 70 percent of the applicants were admitted. In 1971, when I became prelaw adviser at Bradley University, I was able to place all of my graduating "prelaws" in law schools, even those with C averages. In the 1960s, many law schools routinely had empty seats in their freshman classes. We used to say that there was a law school for everyone. Poorer students might have to move out to unattractive parts of the country, do some remedial work to meet law school requirements, or study at lower-status law schools, or at night. But just about all applicants who had graduated from college could get in somewhere, if they tried hard enough and were willing to invest enough time and money in the application process.

On the basis of my own conversations with prelaw students, I think there is some truth in all these arguments. But many students-more than the experts suggest-are also attracted to law because of its subject matter. "Lawyers make the rules for business and politics," one student told me, "and they have to discuss what the rules ought to be like. So they're always thinking about philosophy and morality, as well as practical things. What other field offers that combination?" Many students are very idealistic; they mention the opportunity that some lawyers have to improve the world, or at least to challenge injustice and abuses of power. Since we don't expect these attractions to change in the near future, I expect the interest in law to remain high.

Meanwhile, the supply of places in freshman law classes is growing very slowly. The American Bar Association accredited a new program, the District of Columbia Law School, in February 1991. Widener University Law School opened a branch campus in 1989-90. Other law schools are expanding slightly. But the increase in supply is not keeping up with the increase in demand. In the near future, therefore, some applicants will simply not be able to get in anywhere.

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So the application process is dangerous as well as difficult. If you don't choose your law schools carefully and present yourself properly, you could be one of the rejects. To avoid this fate, you will need to become familiar with the application process itself. In many respects it is quite different from the procedure used by undergraduate colleges or other professional schools.

If you aren't sure how law schools will view your record, if you're over forty, or if there's anything else in your background that you think the law schools will question, you should call the admissions offices of the schools you intend to apply to and request informational interviews. I'll have something to say about these interviews in the articles to come. For now, you should know that you can always discuss your record with a law school official. In this way, you can get some idea of how your application will be viewed.

If you're not currently a college student, you may still be able to work with a prelaw adviser. You'll probably find that the adviser at your alma mater will be willing to answer your questions if you call or visit. Most provide this service to alumni on a time-available basis. If you can't contact your alma mater, investigate any nearby campus. Many prelaw advisers will answer questions from neighbors-again, as their schedules permit. At a minimum, they'll usually provide registration materials for the Law School Admission Test. You should also be able to use the law school catalogs and other relevant publications in the college library.

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The important thing is to get your questions answered, even if it requires considerable persistence. Don't rely on whatever you re-member from your undergraduate days; law schools, and the law school application process, have changed dramatically in recent years. They are evolving still.

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