The first step in applying to pretty much any law school is to create an account through the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) website. Through this website, you will have access to everything you need to submit a complete application to the law schools of your choice.
Credential Assembly Service The Credential Assembly Service (CAS) is found on the LSAC website and will be the service you use to complete and process your law school application. The CAS will process transcripts, letters of recommendation, and will send all application information to the law schools of your choice. Because LSAC is providing these services through their site, there will be a one-time service fee of $195 for the overall service not including the fees per application or fees for requesting your transcripts from your current or previous schools. There are waivers available for those who qualify through the LSAC website.
Law School Admissions Test The Law School Admissions Test is not exactly based on prior knowledge but more so in your way of thinking. Most students don’t typically think in the way the LSAT requires students to think. For that reason, it is critical that you study for the exam. The LSAT score is a highly impactful factor in your law school applications which is why the LSAT should be taken seriously. It is best to start preparing for LSAT as soon as possible. In a traditional route, you will likely be taking the LSAT toward the end of your third year as an undergrad. You can take the test a total of three times in a year and seven times in a lifetime. Clearly the LSAT is important so here are some test-prep resources for you: the LSAC has partnered with Khan Academy to provide free online tools to help prepare you for the LSAT, local libraries can also provide LSAT practice books, and practice books can also be purchased online or in stores for more freedom with writing in booklets. Letters of Recommendation Your letter of recommendation is a letter written on your behalf from a professor, employer, or any person(s) who knows your work ethic and potential to grow academically/professionally. When requesting letters of recommendation, the recommender should be given plenty of time to process and complete, but you should also provide a deadline of your own so that any delays do not hinder your application process. You should provide your recommender with all the information you think they should know about you to help them fully describe your achievements and potential in their letters. Don’t forget to constantly follow up with your recommender and also send a thank you letter/email.
Personal Statement Your personal statement is typically a 2-4 page paper discussing your background, why you want to go to law school, and why you would be a good candidate. Each school has different specifications to their personal statement requirements but that’s the gist. Your personal statement is truly where the admissions council gets to know who you are as a person and not just as a number or score. Your personal statement is just as important as your GPA and LSAT score and should be treated as such. That being said, you should start brainstorming about what you will say in your statement months in advance to submitting your application. You should also go through multiple drafts until you get to a version you feel strongly about. Once you have your strong version, it should be sent to people you trust for revisions. Resume Your law school resume should be tailored specifically to represent the strengths in your academic backgrounds and achievements you've received throughout the years. If your GPA is above a 3.0, it is ideal that you include that in your resume. Any awards received from your school or employer, such as deans list or employee of the month, are also great additions to your resume. When summarizing your work experience, it is important to point out the impact you were able to make while in your position. An example of this could be, "I did this, which resulted in X", such as "an increase in X by XX%" or "an increase in X from using XYZ skills". Another great section to emphasize in your resume is your involvement on and off-campus. That can be anything from being president of your organization to volunteering with your church on weekends. Overall, you want your resume to stand out by the impact you have made in your academics, work experience, and in your community. If you have any further questions or would like me to go into more detail about any of the law school application sections mentioned above, please let me know in the comments or feel free to send me a private message! Thank you so much for reading and hope you come back for the next post! ♡