Everything You Need To Know About Applying To Law School

Everything You Need To Know About Applying To Law School Pre-Law Advising Tufts career center

Things to Think About: • Why do you want to go to Law School? • (pros and cons) • Do you truly understand what it means to be a lawyer and go to law school? • (Have you talked to lawyers? Had any experience in a law firm?) • Have you thought about taking time off between Tufts and Law School? • Some schools appreciate that you have taken time off (Northwestern, Harvard)

Application Process LSAT Transcripts Letters of Recommendation Personal Statement Resume (optional depending on the Law school)

Where to Start: First Step Visit LSAC.org and create an account More than 200 law schools in the US and Canada use this online system to administer the law school application process Also provides resources such as law school locators, FAQ’s and additional resources for the application process

What is the LSAT? • Necessary to apply to an ABA-approved law school. • The LSAT is an admissions test, not an aptitude test, unlike the SAT’s. • It is designed to test your logical reasoning abilities under timed conditions. • LSAT’s predict first-year grades and the ability to pass the bar exam. • LSAT is a learnable test.

How to Study for the LSAT

Study, Study, Study 12-15 FULL, TIMED, LSAT practice exams are necessary to perform your very best. Blocks of questions alone will not improve an LSAT score. You CAN improve your score with practice. There are commercial prep programs. It depends on your study skills, but you can do just as well on your own. Free LSAT practice exams are available through Khan Academy on the LSAC.org website.

When to Take the LSAT • If applying next year, you should think about taking the July, September or October test date: • Monday, July 15 • Saturday, September 21 • Monday, October 28 • Visit LSAC.org to register • It takes about three weeks to receive your score • Can I take the test more than once? • Not strongly advised. • Law schools will either average your scores or use the highest score, but they will see ALL of your scores. Why shouldn’t I take the November or January test? • Puts you late in the admissions cycle • Significantly hurts chances for admission • Hurts chances for merit-based aid

Applying • First thing is to sign up for CAS (credential assembly service) • Can sign up through the LSAC.org website • Sign up at any point prior to applying • Will assemble your letters of recommendation, transcripts and LSAT scores to be sent to individual schools • You can check online to be sure that all of your items have been received

Letters of Recommendation • Secure 2 academic recommendations (Professor, Teaching Assistant, Academic/Faculty Advisor) • Pick a professor that knows you very well and you think is going to write you a good letter of recommendation. • Don’t ask someone just because they are well known (judge, DA, etc.) • If you have been out of school for five to ten years, it is okay to ask supervisors at your place of employment.

How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation • Visit your faculty member during their office hours • Have a conversation with them about your goals • Provide your professor with: • An updated resume • A copy of your personal statement • Your college transcript(s) and LSAT score(s) • A list of law schools you are applying to • If your recommender is submitting your letter of recommendation on paper, it would be advised to provide them with a stamped envelope addressed to CAS (Credential Assembly Service). Also, you must print the required LOR Form from your LSAC.org account and deliver it to your recommender. This form must accompany your letter of recommendation. • Send a Thank You note and let them know where you will be attending.

Evaluations • Recently, LSAC added Evaluations in addition to letters of recommendation • Most schools do not require them, but it might be beneficial to provide one or two from recommenders you feel know you well • Evaluations help assess: Personal qualities, Integrity and honesty, Communication, Task management & ability to work with others

Personal Statements • Should be two pages, double spaced in an easy to read font • Must directly, clearly answer the question that is asked by each school • Think about the following: • Why do I want to be a lawyer? • Why do I want a legal education? • How will a legal education help me fulfill my goals? • What experiences make you feel ready for the ethical, professional and moral responsibilities of a career in law?

Personal Statement Tips • Think of it as an interview, tell them about you! • This is the only chance Admissions get to see who you really are • Show them who you are, don’t tell • Don’t regurgitate your résumé or summarize your life. • If you are having trouble with your personal statement, just start writing. • You will be able to formulate a personal statement by getting your thoughts on paper • Avoid florid, over-the-top language. • Read it out loud to yourself • Does it sound like you? Does it flow properly? • Ask people you are closest with to read your personal statement. • They will be able to tell if the real you comes through the statement

The Search Process: How to Select Schools • 70% of the admissions process is your GPA and LSAT score • However, your personal statement and letters of recommendation do matter • Use the UGPA and LSAT Score Search from the LSAT website: https://officialguide.lsac.org/Release/UGPALSAT/UGPALSAT.aspx • If you don’t have your LSAT score, use your latest practice test • This will give you a sense of your likelihood of being accepted to a particular school

Factors To Think About: Where you will be happy for three years, location of the school: urban, suburban, college town Cost: tuition, room & board, likelihood of grant or scholarship Programs offered Student body: competiveness, community feeling, diversity Career opportunities through the career center Facilities: housing, classroom, library, technology Take tours of different law schools you are interested in to get a feel of the school

How Many Schools Should I Apply to? • For risk-takers: 5-7 schools. • For more security in the process: 8-12 schools • 2-4 “reach” schools • 3-5 schools with a good probability of acceptance • 2-4 safety, or “money” schools

When Should I Apply? You should aim to have all of your applications submitted by Thanksgiving. Law school is on a rolling admission so the earlier you submit your application, the earlier the admissions officers will read your application

What should I expect?When should I expect…? It all depends on the applicant profile…something you can’t know. Don’t be upset if you don’t hear anything by early March.

Summing Up The Application Process Sign up for LSAC Register for the LSAT and CAS Practice, practice, practice for the LSAT Arrange letters of recommendation Get recommendations and transcripts to CAS Work on personal statement Research law schools in your GPA/LSAT range Apply!

Pre-Law Events & Resources Attend the Law School Forum in Boston: 11/8/19 Attend upcoming pre-law events/workshops E-mail with a quick question to: shannon.seaver@tufts.edu Schedule an appointment via Handshake or call the Career Center at 617-627-3299. Pre-Law Website: http://students.tufts.edu/career-center/apply-graduate-or-professional-school/pre-law-advising Pre-Law Newsletter: Sign-up from Pre-Law website

Everything You Need To Know About Applying To Law School