Law school can be an intense academic journey that challenges analytical reasoning and legal writing skills while expanding case law knowledge. Students typically spend their first year taking courses such as Torts* and Contracts that provide much of their doctrinal foundation.
Refine your list of law schools using LSAT scores, application materials and interview invitations. Register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS) so your LSAT scores, transcript(s), letters of recommendation and other relevant materials can be sent directly to each law school you apply to.
Fall
Fall semester marks the official beginning of law studies for new law students, when admissions requirements such as taking and registering for the LSAT, ordering transcripts to upload onto LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS), writing personal statements/resumes/CVs as well as gathering letters of recommendation must be fulfilled.
Planning early is key for successfully navigating the law school application process. Applicants should ideally begin submitting applications one year ahead of their intended enrollment term – or earlier. This will give them plenty of time to fully prepare themselves for law school classes while still excelling in undergraduate coursework and taking the LSAT exam.
Along with an intensive reading load, first-year law students must also attend mandatory 1L workshops and seminars that help them adjust to law school life and prepare them for careers as lawyers. Although working while attending law school may be possible, many schools advise against it in order to protect student academic success and understand material more thoroughly. It may be useful to form or join a study group in order to gain support from classmates as well as gain valuable feedback for assignments from colleagues.
Spring
As a law student, your time will be dedicated to deciphering complex textual material and making decisions from it. Preparation should begin early as you may gain vital skills by studying history, English literature, philosophy, political science or economics; though many lawyers hold degrees in various subjects as well.
Jan and Feb are deadline season for law school applicants, who scurry to complete applications and submit them with hopes of starting in the fall. Some schools also offer spring-semester and summer-start programs – if this option appeals to you, make sure to weigh the advantages and disadvantages before deciding.
Most law schools discourage their first year law students from working while attending class, and some prohibit it altogether. Even if working is allowed, it would be wise to limit your hours as transitioning to law school can be daunting and stressful. Your peers and professors will serve as your best resources when it comes to job opportunities or professional advice pertaining to navigating the legal landscape. Furthermore, many students participate in clinics or externships designed to apply their academic knowledge practically; such experiences help build legal etiquette while simultaneously honing research and writing abilities.
Summer
As a student of law, you’ll enjoy two summer breaks as an undergraduate: between your 1L year and your 2L year (your “1L summer”) and again between your second and third years of law school (your “2L summer”). Take this time to recharge, explore career paths, and build up your legal professional network.
Summer between your 1L and 2L years can also be an ideal opportunity to land employment at a law firm. Large law firms frequently recruit students through OCI by inviting them to interview on-campus at their respective law schools, with many first-year students using this as an opportunity to secure internships for 2L summer that might lead to postgraduate employment offers.
If you are seeking to secure a summer externship, it is wise to start planning early for its application process. Particularly with government or public interest organizations, applying in advance of when OCI recruiting begins at your law school can make all the difference in getting one! For law review programs applying to, planning ahead on LSAT test dates ensures more time to prepare and retake exams should they become necessary so you can devote yourself fully to submitting applications and resumes for consideration.
