Applying to Law School

Law schools look at a few factors when reviewing potential law school applicants. Your LSAT (Law School Admission Test) score and GPA matter a lot, but other factors are important, too.

Since there is no “Pre-Law major,” study something you are interested in and that you can excel in, but remember that reading and writing are the two most important skills for succeeding in legal education and practice — so take courses that will help you develop these skills. Though your major doesn’t matter, your GPA absolutely does. Also, be careful about retaking classes because both grades will be taken into equal account when you apply.

Getting to know professors is essential for the law school application process because quality relationships with professors will likely result in strong letters of recommendation. You can also take advantage of opportunities to serve, do internships, study abroad, work, research, publish, or any other activities that interest you to strengthen and diversify your undergraduate experience as well as your law school application.

Application Timeline

Law schools matriculate in the fall, and you will be applying in the fall/early spring the year before you want to enter law school. With that in mind, here is a rough timeline that can help you as you progress through your undergraduate education and move towards law school.

Freshman and Sophomore Years
Junior Year
Make an account at and start perusing the resources there for the LSAT.
Winter/Spring:
- Take a free LSAT practice test to calculate your diagnostic score (through or the ).
- Start thinking about study schedules and LSAT prep courses.
- Check upcoming (typically June, August, September, October, November, January, February and April).
Summer:
- Update your resume.
- Work on your
- Study relentlessly for the LSAT.
Senior Year
This can help you feel less exhaustion, enhance your productivity and improve the quality of your life.
August - October:
- Ask for letters of recommendation:
  - Review what makes a and how to ask for a quality one.
  - You will use to submit those letters, so become familiar with this service.
  - Give your reviewers a deadline to complete it; usually 3-5 weeks.
- Finalize your list of law schools.
- Fill out your law school applications—thoughtfully, thoroughly, and with plenty of time to go back and edit with fresh eyes. Don’t forget to review application instructions carefully.
- Request transcripts from all undergrad and graduate schools attended. Have the school’s registrar send your transcript to LSAC’s CAS.
- Submit an early decision application if desired.
November:
- Submit applications.
Spring:
- Review options and make a decision.

Resources for Applying to Law School

Are you thinking about law school but unsure about it, or just curious about what life after law school would even look like? Watch this discussion on what to expect from a legal education and career.

These are the primary things to consider when thinking about applying for law school, as well as what it looks like to apply including basics to consider when studying for the LSAT, writing a personal statement, getting letters of recommendation and building a good resume.

Writing a quality personal statement can be tricky, and this video covers important information to think about before you start writing as well as advice on what to do, what not to do, and how to make your statement the best it can be.

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