Taking the LSAT?  Don’t forget the Law School Application

Whether you’re preparing for the October LSAT or planning on taking the December exam, you should put some thought into the law school application process.

1. LSAC has an application outline.  You need to sign up for CAS (credential assembly service) so take a look at that information.

2. Reasons to Get started!

   You shouldn’t stress, but don’t procrastinate either! You’re likely very aware that applications to law schools are down. But that does not mean that you can relax. Law school is expensive and putting yourself into a position where you can receive scholarships or even perhaps be admitted to a higher ranked school than you’d hoped for…well there are lots of good reasons to aspire to the higher goals.

   Most law schools fill their classes and give away scholarships before their application deadlines. This means you should be ready to get the application sent as soon as you receive your LSAT score.

3. Please take the LSAT seriously!

   If you’re taking the October LSAT, this should be your current primary focus. You should be studying for the LSAT and scheduling that study. Know what your practice test scores are and know what your goal scores are. (see https://officialguide.lsac.org/release/OfficialGuide_Default.aspx)  If you can get an LSAT tutor or other LSAT test help you should. The above link will show you what the LSAT-GPA combinations need to be. If you’ve already finished 3 years of undergrad, the GPA isn’t going to change a lot, but your LSAT score can increase significantly!

   If you’re taking the December LSAT, you have a little more time to work on the LSAT as well as think through the rest of the process. If you’re taking the February LSAT, you’ll need to submit most of your application before you receive your score. Make sure everything else is ready so that all you need to do is have the LSAT score supplied.

4. Selection of Schools

   You should a realistic evaluation of where you stand based on your GPA and LSAT score. So, select which schools you want to apply to. You want a mix of “Reach” schools, where perhaps you’re a bit low on your numbers, realistic schools, where you fall into the middle of the numbers, and also some safety schools. But, don’t apply to any schools that you would not want to attend. Apply to schools that you can be excited about. This will help you focus on that dream and help you get through the LSAT and the following application process.

5. Letters of Recommendation

   It is also very important that you communicate with your professors, or others you’ve targeted to write letters of recommendation for you. Give them a firm date of when you need to have your application in. And, please remind them…you cannot be timid about this. They mean well, but … many a law school applicant has had delays waiting for those letters.

6. The Personal Statement!

   If you haven’t started your law school essay, it is very important. It is your one chance to show the law school admissions personnel that there is more to you than numbers and scores. As you saw when you checked the GPA/LSAT score grid from LSAC, there is a range of scores that they accept. If you’re on the lower side of the numbers, a great personal statement can help you out.

Tags: applications, law school, Law School Admissions, lsat advice, lsat score