аIJʿª½±½á¹û's dedicated pre-law adviser and related programming can helps students prepare to apply to law schools after graduation.
Many аIJʿª½±½á¹û students and alumni consider studying law as a profession. Law schools across the nation are competitive, and there are steps students can take while undergraduates to strengthen their résumés and applications. Students who are interested in exploring a career in law are encouraged to meet with the pre-law adviser well in advance of their senior year to begin preparing.
Advising
аIJʿª½±½á¹û's pre-law adviser assists students and alumni during every phase of the application process. Their expertise and involvement include:
- Helping students in determining if law is the right field for them
- Assisting students in finding summer experiences to enhance their candidacies
- Creating law school application timelines to help applicants stay on track
- Advising students in how to prepare for the LSAT
- Critiquing law school application essays
- Advising students as they choose the schools to which they will apply
- Reviewing and explaining admission packages
Law School Panel
Each fall, аIJʿª½±½á¹û hosts a panel of admissions representatives’ from top law schools to coach students through the law school application process. The panel provides a unique insight into the law school application process and answers the following questions:
- How do I know if law school is right for me?
- When should I apply — directly after graduation or after one to three years of gaining experience?
- How do I determine which law school is the best fit for me?
- How do I craft the strongest application materials possible?
Previous admission panelists have included representatives from: American University, Boston College, Boston University, Columbia University, Cornell University, UCLA and University of Pennsylvania.
For information regarding the Law School Panel, contact the pre-law adviser, or watch for details on Career Services’ emails or the .
Law School Application Process Timeline
Discovering law as a career can begin as early as a student's first year of college. The application process should begin during a student’s junior year, or in the year prior to the students’ anticipated attendance at law school.
- Enroll in courses that will enhance your communication skills, writing ability, reading comprehension, logical reasoning, and analytical skills. Choose a challenging, balanced, and diversified course of study, but also one in which you will excel.
- Make an appointment with the pre-law adviser and your faculty adviser.
- Work diligently on class materials. If you need help, get it. Your transcript should reflect a performance of which you are proud.
- Develop relationships with members of the faculty. Begin to think about whom you should ask to write letters of recommendation. In most cases, you will need letters from two professors who can specifically address your academic performance and intellectual promise.
- Participate in selected extracurricular activities. Your contributions and involvement should be substantive and meaningful to you. If possible, obtain leadership status and identify some way to provide service to the college and local community.
- Talk with law students and lawyers about the nature of legal education and the profession.
- Maintain a strong academic standing. Your GPA is important in the admission process.
- Attend аIJʿª½±½á¹û’s Law School Panel held in late September or early October every other year (or visit a law school forum near you; see ).
- Join аIJʿª½±½á¹û’s Pre-law Society, Mock Trial, or Debate Society.
- Manage your undergraduate finances wisely, to be prepared for the expense of law school.
- Check out Career Services’ emails for updates on events, programs, and workshops.
- Schedule an appointment with the pre-law adviser to discuss your current academic status, LSAT preparation, individual time frame, researching law schools, and LSAC.org
- Focus on academic courses that demonstrate depth, persistence, and perseverance. Maintain a good GPA.
- Attend pre-law programs, panels, and events.
- Attend an LSAC Law School Forum near you.
- Prepare for the LSAT. If applying to law school your senior year, it is recommended you take the LSAT junior year winter, summer, or again fall senior year.
- Identify faculty members for recommendation letters; discuss your plans with them and request permission to use them as references.
- Update your resume and have it reviewed by Career Services.
- Prepare a list of law schools which are of interest to you. Include reach, safety, and stretch schools.
- Take the June LSAT or prepare for the October LSAT.
- Register for LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service via LSAC.org’s website.
- Request an official transcript to be sent to the LSAC Credential Assembly Service.
- Review law school websites; research, visit, and hone law school target list.
- Prepare application materials, focusing on resume and personal statement.
- Check-in with your letter of recommendation writers.
- Request a Dean’s Certification from the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students.
- Attend an LSAC Law School Forum (Boston or New York are the closest locations to аIJʿª½±½á¹û).
- Attend relevant pre-law workshops.
- Schedule an appointment with the pre-law adviser to discuss your list of schools, your personal statement, and other important concerns.
- Take October LSAT or December LSAT, if necessary.
- Finalize your well-balanced list of law schools. Read application instructions for each school closely with a particular focus on submission methods and application requirements, and prepare your materials for submission.
- Request a Dean's Certification from your administrative adviser (if not yet requested).
- Complete and submit your applications and all supporting materials by Thanksgiving or winter break.
- Check to be sure application file is complete, including letters of recommendation and Dean’s Certification. If you do not receive confirmation of application submission from the law schools, it is your responsibility to follow-up to confirm that your application is complete.
- File your financial aid applications. Research and apply for grants, scholarship and financial aid, both school-related and outside award programs.
- Send an updated transcript with fall semester grades to LSAC or directly to law schools.
- If you re-tested in December and want the law schools to defer reaching a decision about you until they receive your December score, you must inform the schools yourself.
- As soon as you begin to get decisions from schools, decide whether you need to apply to additional schools or investigate optional programs.
- Update law schools you have not yet heard from regarding new evidence to support your application such as honors or awards.
- Schedule an appointment with the pre-law adviser to review multiple offers/scholarships or how to approach being wait-listed.
- When you have chosen your law school, mail in the appropriate deposit and confirmation forms by law school deadline. Then notify all other schools that you are withdrawing your application from their application review process or declining their offer of acceptance.
- Communicate your plans with the pre-law adviser and send thank-you correspondence to your recommenders