Applying to Law School

Applying to Law School

The application process to law school might seem overwhelming. Your Pre-Law Advisor will help you navigate this process.

The Pre-Law Advising Program is designed to take the guesswork out of applying for law school. We advise and council you throughout your undergrad to help you get the best outcome with your education. Taking the Pre-Law Seminar will get you in the mindset for attending law school.

The rest of this page will go over things to think about if you would like to attend law school.

Grade Point Average

If you want to go to law school, you must create for the selection committee members a complete picture of who you are as an applicant. 

Applicants to law schools are selected in part based upon GPA or LSAT scores.  But selection committees consider much more than just scores; they focus on a holistic picture of each applicant, including academic performance (coursework and GPA), extracurriculars, recommendations and personal statements.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

THREE LETTERS, TWO OF WHICH SHOULD BE WRITTEN BY FACULTY MEMBERS.

Applicants will need three letters of recommendation for applying to law school. These letters are a crucial component of the application. At least one of these letters should be written by a Faculty member at the U of M. Make sure that the requested letter writer will take the task seriously.

GET TO KNOW YOUR PROFESSORS!

A letter of recommendation is all the more convincing when it is specific in its content (comparison with peers, ranking, precise appraisal of writing and analytical skills of the applicant, including strengths and weaknesses). For this reason, it is very important that students get to know the Faculty well.

Pre-law students should try to build strong connections with a few Professors. It is also important to ask for letters when the faculty member still remembers the applicant well.

GIVE YOUR RECOMMENDER PLENTY OF TIME

Finally, faculty members should be given at least one month’s notice before the letters are due. You cannot expect your recommender to be asked for a letter on Monday when the deadline is on Friday. This only shows poor respect and poor organization too.

WHAT IF YOU'VE BEEN OUT OF SCHOOL FOR A WHILE?

If you have been out of school for several years, letters from employers, coworkers or anyone who is able to judge your abilities and character will be fit. That said, some schools require a letter from a faculty member.

If you plan on waiting a few years after college before applying to law school, you should ask for letters of recommendation from professors during your senior year. The LSAC letter of recommendation service can keep your letters of recommendation up to 5 years. You may also store your letters through Interfolio.

Personal Statement and Essays

THE PLACE TO TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE, AND WHY YOU ARE INTERESTING.

Personal statements and essays serve as a replacement for a face-to-face interview. This means that they should reflect the applicant’s personality and values. They provide the opportunity to provide an idea of the kind of person the applicant is. As such, they may be the second most important component of your application.

When writing your personal statement or essay, applicants should ask themselves: what should selection committee members know about me that would make them consider my application? What makes my application different from the 50 others that they have been reviewing all day? In short: what makes me an interesting person?

MAKE IT PERSONAL!

Your personal statement should not repeat information that the selection committee can find somewhere else (on your transcripts or resume). Your personal statement should illuminate and give meaning to the less “personal” pieces of your application file. It is your chance to provide a convincing narrative of your experiences, your previous achievements, and your vision of your future.

TAKE YOUR TIME, AND GET SOME HELP!

It is crucial to write several drafts for your personal statement, and to get feedback from your Prelaw advisor before submission. You should plan on spending at least a month to get your personal statement finalized.

EDIT, EDIT, EDIT, UNTIL IT HURTS!

Finally, check the grammar, spelling and punctuation of your statements and essays extremely carefully. Lawyers need to pay attention to details: it starts with proof reading. A good way to do this is to read them out loud, or even better: out loud and backwards!

Curriculum Vitae - Writing Your Resume

Make it short.

A good résumé is one that is read quickly. It is not necessary to keep it within one page, but you should keep in mind that the members of the selection committee may never look at the second page of your resume if there is one.

Make it clear.

Put the most important information on top of each section. Leave no room for guesses: members of the selection committee should not have to think in order to get your credentials right. Keep the format simple and straightforward. Too much formatting makes things more difficult to read.

Make it clean.

Check the grammar, spelling and punctuation of your statements and essays extremely carefully.

Get it checked.

Your Prelaw advisor can help you with your resume.

Registering With the Law School Admissions Council

Students will have to apply electronically through Law School Admissions Council. You will need to set up an account. The LSAC has a centralized system (Credential Assembly Service) that allows you to upload all your application material on your account only once. Your application material will be then compiled and summarized into a report. The report will be sent to the law schools to which you chose to apply. Please allow your prelaw advisor to access your data!

Choosing a Law School

 

FIRST THINGS FIRST: WHERE DO YOU STAND A CHANCE?

Students should consider applying to at least 6 law schools: 2 in which they are almost sure they will be accepted, 2 which are within reach and which they would be happy to attend, 2 which are borderline achievable but which they would love to attend.

Most importantly, applicants should access the Law School Transparency site Law School Transparency Site and the Wizard page Law School Wizard Page. This is the best tool for finding law school options. [Note: Students will need a free Law Hub account to access the Wizard.]

The applicants’ GPA and LSAT score set thresholds. An indispensible source of admission statistics for all approved law schools is the ABA/LSAC official guide to law schools.

You can find raw data for Raw Data Law School Rankings on the Internet Legal Research Group webpage.

WHERE DO YOU WANT TO PRACTICE?

One consideration is where applicants want to practice law. If, for example, an applicant wants to live and practice in Seattle, it would make sense to go to a northwest law school, especially a law school in Washington state. Being in a law school in the area where you want to practice will make it possible to network, i.e. get to know the legal community, including potential employers.

Also, applicants should keep in mind that they need to take the bar exam in the state in which they want to practice. This does not mean that they cannot go to law school in Illinois, and practice in Colorado, but in this case, they will need to take a class over the summer after law school, in order to learn about the specificities of Colorado Law and take the bar exam in Colorado.

Finally, don't forget the multi-state bar exam, which for some applicants might be the best option. While different states require different scores to pass the multi-state bar exam, this is a great option for applicants who plan on practicing law in more than one state or who don't want to limit their practice to only one state.  Montana participates in the multi-state bar exam.

HOW MUCH IS IT GOING TO COST? 

The next consideration should be cost. Going to law school is very expensive. Tuitions vary, and applying to law schools in various categories may also make sense if cost is a factor. That said, tuition is not the only expense law students face. In addition to tuition, students must pay for food, lodging, books etc. Working during law school is not always an option, especially during the first year. Most students rely on loans to cover these expenses. It is not unusual for students to come out of law school more than $100,000 in debt.

Accordingly, prelaw students should be careful to build a good financial credit record.

Also, they should try to keep their debt as low as possible. Otherwise, they may have to live as a student for a long time after they finish school.

BAR PASSAGE RATES, PLACEMENT RECORDS, AND AVERAGE SALARIES.

It is crucial that students have a good sense of how well law students do after law school. Of course, how many students pass the bar is important. It is also important to look at how many students got jobs that require a law degree. A great resource to get clear data of placement records is the Law School Transparency website.

IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?

Some law schools offer scholarships and grants depending on merit, financial need or both. More information is available on the law schools’ individual websites. Clearly, what kind of financial support law schools offer may be a crucial criterion when choosing where to apply.


Also, at state-supported law schools, state residents typically pay much lower tuition. Since the rules vary, students will need to consult with the particular university to determine what it takes to qualify as a state resident.

Access Lex provides free resources on how to finance your legal education.

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC INTERESTS?

What kind of law the student wants to practice can be a important factor in choosing where to apply. For example, some students may consider law schools featuring a program in natural resource or American Indian law. Others may be interested programs specializing in International or Immigration Law, or in dual programs and joint degrees (Juris Doctor + Master of Business Administration, Master in Environmental studies, Indian Law Certificate). Students should look at the law schools’ websites for special programs.

OTHER FACTORS TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.

There are many other factors that students should consider when choosing which law school they want to attend. One may suggest considering the quality of the Faculty and education (class sizes, special events and speakers), of the facilities (housing, library, study spaces, student meeting areas, disabled student access etc.), of the location (recreation opportunities, cultural environment), and of the community (students organizations, relationships with alumni).

Potential applicants are encouraged to explore law schools' individual websites. Also, it is a good idea to try to contact current students, recent alumni as well as to consider visiting law schools before you make your final decision.

RECOMMENDED APPLICATION TIMELINE

WHEN TO SUBMIT

Apply as early as possible. 

Whether you apply in your senior year or a few years after graduation, applying as early as possible in the admissions cycle is vital. The admissions cycle begins in October and ends in the Spring. Because law school admissions function on a rolling admissions basis, we recommend submitting your application before Thanksgiving.

After you have submitted your application materials, it is a good idea to verify with the law school that your application is complete.