When Law School Applications Open

If you want to attend law school, you need to put effort into preparing your application. That includes selecting the appropriate schools, attaining a good LSAT score and seeking personal recommendations from trusted sources.

Managing the process can be daunting, but with the right planning you’ll find success. Read on to discover how to set a timeline that gives yourself an edge over competitors and maximize efficiency throughout each stage.

Fall

The summer before you begin law school is an ideal time to explore your options. Take a vacation, do an internship or work a part-time job that will help you decide whether the legal field is for you. Furthermore, this is an ideal moment to talk with family and friends about how this change in your life will affect them.

Gain an understanding of the campus, its culture and who attends the law schools you are considering. Visit as many campuses as possible and take advantage of open houses or other admissions-related events to get a feel for the institutions’ reputations as well as meet current students.

Consider speaking to an alumni or professional who attended a legal school about your career goals and the decision-making process. They’ll have firsthand knowledge of how the legal education system has changed since they were in school, providing useful insight on how they overcame challenges that you can too.

Reach out to your professors and supervisors to request recommendation letters for your law school application. These are essential components that could make or break your chances of admission.

Once you review your majors, identify which ones will provide the skillset necessary to succeed on both the LSAT and in law school. Ideally, select your major before applying to law school; however, this may not always be possible.

Register for courses that will enhance your academic credentials and prepare you for the challenges of law school. At this time, begin working on your personal statement and resume.

Start researching the law schools you’re interested in and attend open houses or other admissions-related events to get a closer look at their campus culture. This will give you an invaluable perspective of what life at these institutions will be like for you as an incoming student.

For optimal results, submit your applications by late November or early December if possible. Most schools operate on a rolling admissions cycle that gives preference to those who apply early.

Winter

In the winter months, many dedicated students begin applying long before their decision date. By doing their research and preparing all applications for their top choices ahead of time, they can ensure a timely acceptance and receive an optimal decision.

It’s also an ideal time to submit your letters of recommendation, as most schools require them by this point. These can come from professors you had in college, supervisors at work, or people who know you socially and professionally. It is especially important to secure as many references as possible if you have been out of school for some time or work in a less-traditional profession.

Furthermore, taking the LSAT can significantly improve your odds of admission into law school. Most people take it in September prior to starting law school – this is ideal since most law schools begin intensive review of applications in October.

In addition to improving your LSAT score, now is the ideal time to begin researching law schools and preparing for the application process. This includes creating a list of schools you are interested in attending and researching their admission requirements.

Register with LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS), which will compile your transcripts, LSAT scores and letters of recommendation into an official report and send it to all schools you’re considering. Most ABA-accredited law schools require you to use CAS, making the small fee well worth it.

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to create a list of schools on your shortlist and make final decisions. This process may take some time, so try not to get overwhelmed with too many options at once.

Now is an excellent time to begin crafting your resume and crafting the personal statement for your law school application. Make sure that your goals and aspirations align with those of the law school you’re applying to.

Spring

For students applying to law school in the spring, scheduling enough time for application completion and submission by deadline can be a major task. This is especially true for early decision schools which require your packet be complete by a certain date.

As students prepare for the spring, they should start researching and selecting schools that match their academic, personal, and professional interests. Furthermore, they should create financial aid plans and student loan strategies.

Students should register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) to package their LSAT scores, transcript(s), and letters of recommendation into one official document that can be sent to all law schools they are interested in attending. Doing this saves time and frustration when submitting applications since it ensures all bases are covered and students have a clear pathway toward admission.

Visits to prospective schools are another crucial element of the application process. Not only do aspiring students get to interact with alumni and current students, but this is also the best way for them to experience what it’s like to be a student at that particular institution.

Some colleges host on-campus law school informational meetings and fairs. Other events, such as LSAC’s forums or admissions fairs, provide students with helpful data regarding law schools.

Once students have identified the law schools they are interested in, they should begin researching their admissions requirements and atmosphere of each school. This will give them a good idea of what life as a law student is like at each institution as well as what qualities they value most when selecting candidates.

When applying to a school, the deadline will usually be noted on its website. Be aware that this could be either a hard or soft deadline; thus, it’s essential that you confirm with the school ahead of time.

Most schools provide rolling admissions, meaning they admit students as soon as they receive their applications. This can be advantageous in several ways; it increases the likelihood that an applicant will be admitted to a given law school and provides students with security in securing a place in a class if one becomes available.

Summer

Summer months are when law school applications open. This is when you should begin thinking about which schools you want to apply to and do your research. Additionally, this is when you should prepare all of your application materials.

Your goal should be to submit all your applications before the law school’s stated deadlines. Meeting these requirements is essential if you want to guarantee that your application will be reviewed by a law school.

Many colleges and universities set their application deadlines in the fall; however, some have them as early as February 1 or as late as August 15. Most law schools have “soft deadlines,” meaning they don’t necessarily prohibit applicants from submitting applications after the stated deadline; however, you should still make every effort to submit your application on time.

As a law student, you’ll spend more than 20 hours per week in class and labs. Your classes usually involve legal research and writing courses with multiple projects (some graded, some not), plus an essay-form final exam. These classes will be challenging and require extensive study for exams.

The initial year of law school can be one of the most challenging experiences a student’s career, yet it also presents an incredible opportunity for growth and development as an individual. Most professors are friendly, knowledgeable, and will encourage you to pursue your interests as you learn about the legal system.

By joining this program, you’ll build a professional network and interact with classmates who will become your long-term colleagues. Furthermore, you will hone your professional skills through hands-on learning opportunities such as the legal clinic and practical training courses.

If you have an interest in a particular field of law, consider enrolling in an academic program or internship during your time off from law school. This is an excellent chance to gain valuable experience that will make you stand out when applying for jobs.

Finally, it’s time to make your final decision on where you plan on attending law school and pay the deposit. Doing this lets schools that you didn’t select know that you have chosen another route, increasing your chances of getting onto a waitlist at a law school offering an advantageous financial aid package.