Introduction and Resources
Introduction
The Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Introduction
Choosing the right school for you.
In your junior and fall of your senior year, start researching law schools on the Web and read the Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools. Start developing a list of about 10 law schools which are in an area of the country where you may want to live and with GPA and LSAT requirements that are in line with yours. A couple of schools should be reach schools, a couple should be safety schools, but the majority should fall into the "good chance to get admitted" range.
What area of the country do you want to go to law school?
Unless you attend a nationally recognized law school, where you attend school may ultimately decide where you end up practicing. Law firms generally like to hire students from local law schools and law schools, in turn, due to relationships fostered over many years, find it much easier to place students at local firms. Even students who graduate toward the top of the class may find it difficult to secure a position in a different area of the country from where they went to law school, so choose wisely.
If at all possible, try to visit at least a few of the schools to which you are applying. Since you will be spending 3 years of your life there as well as a considerable amount of money, you want to ensure that you'll be comfortable and happy with your decision. Consider if you want to live in a city or a small town as well as if the law school is part of a university campus or simply a building located in a city's downtown core.
Should I apply to a law school because it has a good specialty program?
Unless you are 100% certain of an area of law you want to practice in or you have experience in a particular field that you want to combine with a law degree, you should not choose a law school solely on the fact that it has a strong specialization in an area of law that interests you. Remember, just as in undergrad, you may change your mind about an area of practice after you begin taking classes or after summer work experience. Keep in mind that most attorneys feel that they become experts in an area of law by practicing in that area and not through taking classes in law school.
How do I know if my GPA and LSAT are in a particular range for a certain law school?
It's very easy to find information on a law school's LSAT/GPA median. The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools is probably your best source. It is published annually and provides accurate information on each ABA accredited law school. Law schools list the 25th and 75th percentile in LSAT and GPA for all incoming students. If you are above the 75th percentile for both LSAT and GPA then you have a very good chance of getting in to that school. It will be difficult to gain admission to a school if your LSAT and GPA are below the 25th percentile. That said, you may still want to apply to your dream school since other factors are considered in the admissions process besides LSAT and GPA.
The Personal Statement
Besides GPA and LSAT, the personal statement is the most important part of your law school application. When a student is on the 'bubble', a good personal statement will in most cases be the deciding factor on whether or not he/she gets admitted. Furthermore, there will be many applicants who have similar LSAT scores and GPAs, so the differentiating factor will be the quality of your personal statement.
Since law schools do not interview applicants, the personal statement is the only way (along with your letters of recommendation) for an admissions committee to look beyond the statistics and get a real feel for the candidate as a person. You should begin collecting your thoughts and drafting an outline for your personal statement during the summer after your junior year.
Top Ten Tips to Remember when Writing a Personal Statement
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Write a story about yourself. Admissions committees read 100s of statements each year, make yours stand out by writing something that clearly expresses an important experience in your life.
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Avoid a laundry list of accomplishments. Take one defining experience in your life and build your essay around it.
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Ideas for topics include: an event that led you to consider attending law school, an achievement that you are proud of, or a unique job experience.
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Whatever you decide to write about, make sure it relates back to why you want to attend law school and what a legal education will help you accomplish.
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Write a 2 or 3 page double spaced essay using a standard college format. Your first paragraph should be compelling, drawing the reader in. The middle three paragraphs should develop and elaborate on your thesis and the last paragraph should be your conclusion. Although you do want to be creative, there is nothing more important than sound writing principals.
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Have as many people as possible read your drafts and final version. The more feedback you get, the better your essay will be.
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Make sure there are no grammatical mistakes, misspellings, or errors of punctuation.
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Never use the personal statement to explain or apologize for problems with your application such as why you scored poorly on the LSAT or that your GPA isn't as high as it should be.
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Avoid gimmicks! Admission committees don't want to see a videotape of you reading your personal statement from the base-camp at Mt. Rainier. You will impress the reader with clear, cogent, and well structured paragraphs and an interesting topic.
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Start early.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are important, though much less so than the LSAT, your GPA, or your personal statement. Most law schools require two or three letters of recommendation and the LSDAS will process up to three. If you will be sending less than three to the LSDAS, you should inform them so they will know when your application is complete.
"I read each recommendation with three questions in mind: 1) How well does the writer know the applicant and the applicant's academic record? 2) What does the writer have to say about the applicant's abilities and characteristics which are important for success in law school and the profession? 3) In the final analysis, how enthusiastic is the writer's support for the candidate's admission to this particular law school?"
Richard Badger, Assistant Dean, University of Chicago Law School
"How well does the writer know the applicant and the applicant's academic record?"
You obviously want to ask a professor for a recommendation who you've had contact with inside and out of class. The best way to ensure a professor knows you as a person and the work you've done is to participate in class, produce quality work, and take an active interest in the subject that the professor teaches. Take the time to ask questions after class, visit the professor during office hours, and participate in extra-curricular programs that the professor is involved in. Of course, you want to be sincere in your efforts and genuinely interested in the course and subject. It's best to take initiative early and start building relationships with professors during your freshman year. Remember, professors have chosen their profession because they want to have meaningful contact with students and help them achieve their goals, so they will appreciate you pro-actively taking the first step to establish a relationship. A professor will not be able to write a recommendation that sticks out from the crowd if they don't know you.
"What does the writer have to say about the applicant's abilities and characteristics which are important for success in law school and the profession?"
In regards to who you should ask for recommendations, it's best to stick with professors, if at all possible, since law schools are most interested in what kind of student you will be. Professors are the most qualified to talk directly about your writing skills, ability to analyze an issue, and the quality of your work. When considering who to ask, focus on professors with whom you've taken more than one class and who can comment on your reading and writing abilities; analysis and research skills; and critical thinking skills. These are the characteristics most valued in law school. If you've had a meaningful work experience or internship, you can also ask a supervisor to write a recommendation, but make sure you educate him/her as to what law schools look for in a recommendation.
"In the final analysis, how enthusiastic is the writer's support for the candidate's admission to this particular law school?"
By being active in class, getting to know your professors, and producing quality work, a recommender's enthusiasm will take care of itself.
What if I didn't do that well academically and can't find a professor to ask for a recommendation?
If all else fails, you should still try to get a recommendation from your academic advisor. You can also get a good recommendation from a supervisor at a summer job or an internship. If the recommender is not familiar with writing recommendations, you'll need to educate him/her as to what law schools are looking for in a letter. Most importantly, do not stress, if you do well on your LSAT, your GPA is pretty good, and you write an excellent personal statement, your chances of getting into law school will not be hurt by average recommendations.
What information should you give to recommenders?
- An unofficial transcript.
- Papers or exams that you did in the professor's class.
- A copy of your resume.
- A draft of your personal statement.
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