Submitting an application for law school is a lengthy process; therefore, it’s essential that you start early and dedicate all of your efforts toward making an application successful.
Now is the time to take or retake the LSAT, work on personal statement/application essays, and request letters of recommendation from professors, employers and mentors.
Fall
Fall is when most law school applications open, as well as when many institutions offer early decision programs.
If your program requires early decision applications, be sure to submit yours by November 1 or as close to it as possible. Furthermore, request that all transcripts from undergrad and graduate studies be sent directly to LSAC’s CAS; additionally file your FAFSA before October 1.
Starting the process early will give you time to craft and collect recommenders, giving you time to fine tune both documents before the application period starts. Preparing all components in advance helps eliminate last-minute scrambling emails to recommenders or last minute personal statement rewrites; this is especially helpful when applying to schools with rolling admissions processes as completing it earlier increases your odds of receiving financial aid offers.
Winter
Once you know when schools accept applications and which require personal statements and letters of recommendation, begin working on these components well in advance of any deadlines. By giving each one careful thought and editing before sending it off on its way without haste or hasty decisions being made – which could lower your chance of getting accepted!
Some law schools use a rolling admissions process, meaning they review applications as they come in rather than waiting until application deadline. This approach provides greater flexibility and may increase your odds of admission if applying early than the priority deadline.
Before starting law school, it is a wise idea to check with your loan servicers to ensure your federal loans are deferred in school deferment status – this will avoid having to submit an additional request later, which could delay your start.
Spring
The spring application cycle marks the final opportunity for students to apply to law schools before depositing nonrefundable payments with them, providing one last chance to submit applications and make important decisions regarding scholarships and law school options.
At this stage, it’s crucial that you work diligently towards submitting applications to schools that fit with your GPA and LSAT scores. All necessary application materials must be organized; also edit each essay thoroughly before sending in for submission.
Some law schools provide early decision options, which can expedite the admissions process for select applicants. Otherwise, applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions have been filled by students accepted into law school classes. Once admitted, attending admission student open houses and orientation events is recommended as it gives you an idea of campus life while simultaneously finalizing housing arrangements and making any preparations for moving to law school.
Summer
As soon as your junior and senior years or after graduating are over, or soon thereafter, is when it is best to begin law school applications preparations. This involves creating a list of schools you would like to apply to, researching their admission requirements and deadlines and signing up with the Credential Assembly Service (CAS). This service makes submitting multiple application materials much simpler.
At this stage, it’s also crucial that you take or retake the LSAT, and begin considering what you wish to do with your law degree. Visit schools if possible during this period; and consider applying to early decision programs if confident of admission.
As deadline season is now upon us, be sure to work diligently through your law school list and application packages for errors before sending them off. This is the only way to guarantee submitting an error-free and professional package.
