Many prospective students are beginning to think about applying to law school this fall. Any new endeavor can be seem overwhelming at first, and the law school application process is no exception. But even the most seemingly daunting project or foray into uncharted waters can be broken down into manageable parts.
Below are the key components of a law school application, separate from the online application form, which you can use as a personal checklist. This list can also serve as a starting point for effective time management to ensure that you complete all application pieces in accordance with your goals.
Discover [10 tips to build a strong law school application.]
Law school applications are comprised of two main categories: objective components and subjective components.
Objective Components
— Undergraduate GPA: It is important to show academic excellence in college through superior grades and a high GPA.
The achievement of a strong GPA indicates to law school admissions committees that you are diligent, hardworking and committed to excellence. Your academic performance in college is viewed as a strong predictor of success in law school and beyond.
Note that a high LSAT and/or significant work experience in between college and law school can offset a relatively low GPA, particularly if the subjective components of your law school applications are compelling. That said, the GPA remains an important factor in law school applications and admissions.
— LSAT and/or GRE: The LSAT remains important in the law school landscape, is still viewed as a strong predictor of success in law school and will likely be needed, unless you wish to apply only to schools that accept the GRE in place of the LSAT.
You should research thoroughly to determine what is needed from a testing standpoint for all the schools to which you intend to apply.
Consider the potential value in taking the GRE, as well as the LSAT, particularly if your GRE score is better than your LSAT score. Regardless of which test you use to support your candidacy, your goal should be to get your best score in the least number of attempts possible.
Read more about the [GRE vs. LSAT.]
— Transcripts: You will need to submit transcripts to the Law School Admission Council’s Credential Assembly Service from all relevant institutions, including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate institutions as well as community colleges and other institutions.
If you are still enrolled in school, be mindful of the breadth and difficulty of courses you choose, in addition to your grades, as admissions committees evaluate transcripts in a sophisticated and nuanced way.
Also, make sure to request transcripts from institutions early enough so that you’re not scrambling at the last minute, since schools require processing time.
Subjective Components
— Personal statement: Law schools typically require a personal statement. Your objective is to craft a compelling essay about an event or life experience that reflects meaningful character attributes that position you for success in law school.
Consider that the personal statement is the key platform through which to highlight your individuality and make your case for admission. Make sure to brainstorm strong topics and create multiple drafts in order to generate a powerful and polished statement to support your candidacy.
— Resume: Key sections of a law school resume include education; honors and awards; experience; and skills and interests, or similar.
Use consistent fonts and formatting, and make sure to proofread. Your resume should be visually pleasing, polished, professional and clear. Law schools often use resumes as a jumping-off point for interviews, so become conversant in all of the areas covered in your resume.
See a [law school resume that made the cut at Harvard.]
— Letters of recommendation: The majority of law schools require at least two letters of recommendation as part of your application.
Ideally, you should have at least one academic recommender who can write on your behalf. If you’ve been out of school for a number of years, you should aim to secure a professional recommendation as well.
— Other essays: You may have the opportunity to provide supplemental essays to support your candidacy. Generally these essays fall into three categories: a diversity statement, an addendum and school-specific supplemental essays.
Not all law schools provide the option to write a diversity statement, and some schools’ prompts are more specific than others. Ensure you have an appropriate topic and that your essay aligns with the prompt.
You can write an addendum if there are any aberrations in your candidacy. The addendum is your opportunity to succinctly address any anomalies.
Other supplemental essays are school-specific, such as the 250-word essay that Yale Law School requires as part of the application or the “why this law school” essay option offered by many schools, including Duke Law School and the University of California–Berkeley.
Ensure that all supplemental essays work in concert with the rest of your application and present new and important perspectives to round out your candidacy.
As you begin applying to law schools, use this checklist to budget your time and strategize your preparation in ways that minimize stress and make the process more manageable.
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An Overview of the Law School Application originally appeared on usnews.com
