LAW SCHOOL
General
Information
Admission
into law school can be a difficult task. Chances are if you are
thinking of acquiring an education in law and all it has to offer,
you have a lot of questions. Hopefully this section will target
key areas of uncertainty to assist you in making a proper choice.
The
Application Process
The
law school application process consists of many different tasks
that you will need to complete in order to successfully be considered
for application. Listed below is a step by step guide to help you
identify what you need to do.
-The
LSAT-
The
Law School Admissions Test is a standardized test that lasts the
better part of a half day and it is used as one part of the application
process for students wishing to attend any one of the 201 law schools
in the country. It measures three distinct areas of an applicant,
their verbal skills, reading skills, and reasoning skills. Offered
quarterly throughout the year, students have ample opportunities
to sign up for it. For more information on the LSAT, please click
HERE.
-The
Schools-
The
first step towards applying to law school includes selecting about
5 to 6 schools to apply to. This means you will need to do some
research on which schools you want to go to. Note, most
schools have a rolling admissions policy, and offer fee waivers
for the application costs, so check that out! Completing the
research part needs to take place at least a year and a half before
graduation. Key information you should consider includes, all raw
information (coursework, admission policies, key faculty, costs,
timeline and outcomes), their location, the median LSAT score and
GPA of students who have been accepted into the program.
Secondly,
make a list of schools that interest categorized on three levels.
- First
are your Reach Schools , these schools consist
of a LSAT score, and a GPA that are substantially above yours.
- Second
are the High Probability Schools , these schools
have LSAT and GPA scores nearly above or below yours.
- Lastly
are the Safety Schools , these schools have LSAT
and GPA scores way below yours, most certainly allowing you easy
admission.
If
you haven’t figured it out yet your GPA is important, mostly any
undergraduate degree helps prepare you for law school, but it doesn’t
hurt to incorporate senior level courses in English, History or
Philosophy to the courses you complete. Lastly,
the personal statement is a part of every application, and the weight
that is put on it is TREMENDOUS, it will say more to an admissions
committee than your grades, letters or recommendations, and your
LSAT scores. Speaking of letter of recommendations, even though
a school may not indicate needing any with your application packet,
it doesn’t hurt to have one or two included.
Frequently
Asked Questions
By
Gloria Rivera, J.D.
Assistant
Dean of Admissions
St.
John's University School of Law
Is
there a preferred major for pre-law students?
There
is no preferred major for students interested in attending law school.
The important thing to do is to be sure that you take at least
two classes that require a major research paper ( read at least
25 pages ). It is probably advisable to pursue a subject matter
that you like because that will make it easier to do well, which
is the most important thing. Try to avoid “catch-all” curriculums
like “pre-law”, and stick to specific subject matter.
What
undergraduate classes best prepare me for law school?
The
best classes are those that are going to require research, analysis,
and/or serious writing. So, for example, math would be a great
major, provided you take a couple of serious “paper courses”. The
old standbys, of course are Philosophy, English, and History.
Are
admissions officers actively looking for older students?
Admissions
officers are happy to see older students because they add diversity
to the pool of applicants. However, older students should
be aware that “life experience” by itself will not get them in.
Their statistics, especially their LSAT scores, since that will
often be the only academic piece that will be contemporaneous, will
still be scrutinized.
How
important are the different aspects of my application?
All
aspects of your application are important and must be treated as
such. It is especially important to answer all the questions asked
truthfully and completely. The applicant must be especially mindful
of disclosing any academic or criminal transgressions thoroughly.
The writing sample is, of course, crucial. Additionally,
letters of recommendation must be paid very close attention.
From
whom should I request letters of recommendation?
You
should get letters from those who can speak to your analytical and
writing abilities from firsthand knowledge, and, if you can give
the writer some of your “work product” for specific reference in
the letter, so much the better. Letters from faculty members are
best, but letters from supervisors who can speak to your academic
potential are also great.
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