Enjuris Tip: Most law schools utilize rolling admissions, so applying early is recommended.
Most law school applicants must submit applications through Credential Assembly Service (CAS).
Law School Admission Council provides this service, which allows students to centralizedly submit applications materials to individual schools.
1. LSAT
The LSAT is an essential factor when applying to law school, and achieving high scores on this test can help you qualify for scholarships – making it a critical element of your application process. In addition, taking this test demonstrates that you possess essential legal school-relevant skills such as analyzing complex arguments, understanding legal principles and logically reasoning through problems.
Recently, some law schools have begun to place less weight on the LSAT in favor of other factors, including undergraduate GPA, personal statements and work experience. Some have even adopted test optional policies or accepted GRE exams; this trend can be linked to research showing LSAT scores do not accurately predict law school success while other parts of an application provide better indicators of potential performance.
GPA-first admissions could limit law school access for those with higher LSAT scores but lower college GPAs, according to research published by LSAC. A study discovered that with such an approach an order of magnitude more Black/African American and three times as many Asian-American applicants would be denied law school entry with a 3.0 cutoff GPA threshold.
The American Bar Association requires law schools to use “a valid and reliable test in admissions decisions.” Until recently, this requirement could only be met automatically by using the LSAT as the only standardized exam; but starting in November 2021 the ABA began permitting law schools to accept GRE exams instead. This change has sparked criticism from administrators at top law schools such as Penn, Berkeley, Michigan as well as deans from lower-ranked and unranked institutions alike; administrators wrote letters calling upon the ABA to evaluate this decision within six years to ensure it doesn’t cause unintended ramifications or unintended ramifications that have resulted from using alternative tests as part of admissions decisions.
2. GPA
GPA is an integral factor of law school admissions, but not the sole determining factor. Admissions committees take several factors into consideration when reviewing an applicant’s academic strength and potential success at law school, such as undergraduate GPA, LSAT scores, letters of recommendation, personal statements and any additional accomplishments or experiences that might contribute to an application’s admissions decision.
For those with GPAs that fall below the “safety zone,” it’s crucial to focus on aspects of their candidacy they can control, such as personal statement writing and letters of recommendation. An outstanding personal statement will highlight your unique qualities and experiences that set you apart from other applicants while showing how you overcame obstacles to accomplish your goals (such as needing to work while attending college – something which might have affected GPA).
Letters of recommendation can also be invaluable for applicants with lower than ideal grades. When choosing recommenders for applicants with subpar grades, make sure they can speak to your abilities and work ethic while having a close relationship with you – for instance a professor would likely make the best recommendation letter rather than colleagues or supervisors who may not know as much about you.
Your academic transcripts must also be submitted to LSAC through Credential Assembly Service for analysis by law schools, who convert all transcripts to the standard 4.0 system to allow them to compare applicants fairly and objectively. Furthermore, most ABA-accredited law schools require you to take one of two standardized English tests (TOEFL or IELTS). Be sure to identify which schools require such exams.
3. Personal Statement
Personal statements are one of the key requirements for law school applications, enabling applicants to express themselves by sharing who they are, their personality and values. Writing an effective personal statement requires careful thought and multiple drafts – for this reason it may be beneficial to ask friends and family members for their feedback on your final drafts.
As you compose your personal statement, keep in mind that admissions committees seek individuals who demonstrate leadership and service capabilities and who will add something valuable to their legal community. One way of conveying these characteristics would be through an anecdote which shows these qualities being demonstrated; also avoid using any cliched language and show your uniqueness by not falling back on cliched phrases like ‘i had always wanted…
Personal statements come in all shapes and sizes; the best are those which are concise yet engaging narrative statements written to showcase an applicant’s character, qualifications and enthusiasm for their desired career path.
It’s essential that when writing a personal statement, one does not dwell on negative experiences or situations. Admissions committees seek applicants with demonstrated the capacity for growth and change who are ready to put in the hard work necessary for becoming successful lawyers. A powerful personal statement will demonstrate these characteristics by discussing a difficult moment or obstacle you overcame and how it has made you stronger person.
4. Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are an integral component of law school applications. Professors who know you well often write the most impressive recommendation letters; their descriptions often highlight your academic abilities, intellectual curiosity, research writing abilities, analytical prowess, overall strengths as a student or professional, qualitative comparisons among peers and illustrative anecdotes that come through in recommendation letters are particularly beneficial to admissions committees.
If you are applying to law schools that require two letters of recommendation, supplement your application with one from an employer or internship supervisor who has seen you work professionally. A strong letter can demonstrate your ability to work well under pressure while working effectively with others on challenging projects.
As soon as you know you will be applying to law school, it’s advisable to begin cultivating relationships with potential letter writers early. Be respectful of the time and care recommenders put into their letters – if there’s any hesitation or lack of enthusiasm about writing one on your behalf, politely move onto someone else on your list of potential letter writers.
Some letter writers offer generic letters of recommendation that can be distributed to multiple law schools, while others specialize in specific programs or specialties. Either way, it’s wise to provide each letter writer with information about which law schools you’re applying to as well as your resume and LSAT scores so they can personalize each letter appropriately for each school you apply to. The Law School Admission Council Credential Assembly Service makes this easy for recommenders who send out multiple recommendations at once.
5. Resume
Many law schools require applicants to submit a resume as part of their application. A resume provides a chronological account of your experiences, accomplishments and other pertinent details that show why you will excel in law school and beyond. A well-crafted resume is essential when applying to law school.
As part of your core junior writing class experience, use the principles you learned to ensure that your resume is clean and easy for people to read quickly and effortlessly. There should be enough white space and font size so it can be read from a distance without looking unprofessional; use short sentences with action verbs to highlight accomplishments; utilize consistent formats for dates and other information throughout.
Focus on how you made an impactful difference at work and developed new skills while there. Admissions officers want to see that you took initiative and went above and beyond. Wherever possible, use quantitative information such as how many clients were served or funds raised.
Similar considerations apply when listing other activities, volunteering opportunities and extracurricular pursuits. Don’t just list them without providing some detail – for instance if you volunteered with an organization focused on women in legal profession or managed to improve an office paper filing system.
Consider including a section with awards and honors you’ve won that may not be immediately obvious to non-lawyers, to demonstrate your dedication and motivation as an attorney student. Just keep this section under two pages as overcrowding will overwhelm readers making it harder for them to identify key data.