Pre-Law 4-year plan

How should I prepare for law school?

Here is a general roadmap to guide you in your preparation for law school. Of course, no plan is complete without the helpful guidance of an academic advisor.

Branch out. Take classes that strengthen your grammar and punctuation skills and improve your reading comprehension. Develop a well-rounded curriculum.

Emphasis should be on planning a program that meets your needs and interest.

Explore extracurricular activities on campus. Remember “quality over quantity.” Finding activities that will help you grow as a person is better than trying to join every group on campus.

Sign up for the Pre-Law Society Club, this is a great way to gain information about events and opportunities both on campus and across the region.

Get to know faculty members and let them get to know you. Establishing relationships with faculty early on in your academic career is a great asset when considering individuals to write your letters of recommendations.

If your freshman grades were not where you wanted them to be, now is the time for change. Utilize the resources available to you on campus, talk with your academic advisor, and develop a plan for academic success.

If you haven’t already, declare your major. Visit your academic advisor, the pre-law advisor (or faculty mentor), and career services to explore major options.

Start exploring elective courses that may help expose you to relevant topics—Business Law, Political Science, /Analytical Writing, etc… Don’t be afraid of taking the more challenging courses. These courses will help in preparing you for the rigorous work expected in law school.

If you have not yet declared a major, visit with your academic advisor, your pre-law advisor, and the Career Center to explore major options. Again, do what you enjoy. Law schools don’t necessarily look at the major, generally your GPA and LSAT score determines eligibility.

Get involved, Join the Pre-Law Society Club (if not already a member). Look for opportunities to serve on campus or in the community. Consider other ways you can give back to your institution or work. Look for opportunities to serve in student government or other officer positions.

Law schools do not look for specific activities/work experiences. Do things you enjoy, gain skills, and give back!

If you haven’t yet, register for a free account at LSAC.org, you will want to create a new account.

In addition to registering for your LSAC account, sign up for a free LSAC LawHub account to access free and affordable LSAT preparation, educational programming tools and resources.

If you plan to attend law school the fall after graduation, plan to take the LSAT spring or summer of your Junior year.

Start considering what the perfect law school for you would entail. With your new account start your research, look for potential law schools.

Establish your top 10, but be open for other options. Be sure to consider cost of living, opportunities available, and your overall happiness with the area of choice (can I live here for 3+ years?).

Key points to look at:

• What are the admission requirements?
• What GPA do I need?
• What LSAT Score do I need?
• When are applications due?
• What is the cost?

Create an outline for your personal and diversity statements. Ask for letters of recommendation. The number of recommendation letters required by law schools for the application varies. Usually the schools request 1 – 3. If you are within two years of receiving your degree, at least one of the recommendations should come from an academic resource (e.g. former professor, academic advisor, etc.) Carefully follow the instructions for each school. Be prepared.

Sign up for the LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service, which helps you compile all documents required for your law school applications.

LSAC will maintain these documents and only will need one copy, no matter how many schools you are applying to.

Whenever possible attend LSAC Prelaw Success Live Events to get the answers or help you may need in planning and preparing for law school.

Diversify your college experience with a mix of work experiences, participating in campus organizations, and doing community service.

Continue to take courses that have writing components and strengthen your reading comprehension. Choose courses with legal topics, such as Political Sciences, Criminal Justice, Communications, and/or Philosophy.

Continue to build relationships with professors and staff on campus. Professors can not only provide you with letters of recommendations, they can provide opportunities for research.

Start applying to law schools! Be sure to pay special attention to all the details and follow ALL admission requirements, failure to do so may disqualify your application.

Always ask for an application fee waiver from the schools you are applying to. Generally, those are available for the current application cycle only.

It is a great idea to have a spreadsheet to track fee waiver codes, application deadlines, and application requirements.

Complete the application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA). Research and apply for additional aid options such as scholarships and grants.

Choose a date and register for the LSAT (and LSAT writing).

Be sure to request testing accommodation if you are eligible.

Be sure to schedule your test date for at least six months before your first law school application is due.

We have many applicants who take the LSAT during their last semester.  While not recommended, there are many law schools who continue reviewing applications into the summer.

Wait until you are ready to take the test. Before you take the official LSAT exam, you should have taken several timed practice tests that will give you an idea of how you are scoring. You should not treat an official LSAT test as a practice exam even if you plan to take the test more than once.

If you sign up for the LSAT, show up to take the exam. Law schools look unfavorably at a no-show on the score report.

If you have not taken the LSAT it is a good idea to take it early.  However, for those students who start looking at law school late, it is ok!

Compare ABA 509 reports https://www.abarequireddisclosures.org/disclosure509.aspx to help guide your decisions on law school selections.

These reports contain important information such as class size, scholarships, bar passage rates, employment results and much more. Don’t hesitate to compare the ABA 509 reports with the resources available through Law School Transparency lawschooltransparency.org. Both sources contain ample and useful information to help you on your path.

Visit two to three law schools at the top of your list to help you decided if the school is a right fit for you.

Please be aware that the Early Decision application process for law school is typically a binding commitment. This option may be ideal for some students, but it requires careful consideration. Key points to keep in mind:

• Early Decision means you agree to attend if admitted,
• You should apply only if the school is your clear first choice.
• Deadlines are usually earlier than regular decision timelines.
• Ensure you understand the terms fully before applying under Early Decision.