Many undergraduates studying history, English, political science, economics, and philosophy have their sights set on law school. After years on the non-official pre-law track, these students are ready to dive into law school curriculum and experiences.
But to get there, you’ll have to not only finish up undergrad, but also go through the law school application process, and it can be overwhelming. Applicants have to take study for and take the LSAT, select schools to apply to, prepare all the necessary documents, and often interview for spots in competitive programs.
Before even starting this process, you need to be sure that a career in law is what you want and that you have what it takes to see it through. You’ll want to ask yourself if you have the potential to achieve a high LSAT score, that you meet the requirements to get into the schools you’re interested in, and that you’re sure attending law school will be worth the investment.
If you’re still an undergraduate and are considering attending law school, consider the following points:
#1. You Should Start the Process During Undergrad
Considering the kind of competition there is to apply to law schools, it makes complete sense to start preparing for the process while you are still in your undergraduate school.
Getting a good GPA score with some strong recommendations from your school can improve your chances of getting admission in a credible and highly sought after law school. You will have to do well in your classes and work with a couple of faculty members to achieve academic as well as professional growth. You will also have to:
- Find internship opportunities to gain hands-on experience
- Volunteer for community development programs that help you cope up with challenges
- Take part in extracurricular activities that can help you in time management
- Enroll yourself for advanced classes to maintain a high GPA
- Work on improving your standardized test skills
- Find out how to communicate clearly and skillfully
#2. You’ll Have to Study, Prepare and do Well on the LSAT
Getting a high score in the LSAT has to be your number one goal if you want to gain admission to one of the prestigious law schools in the world.
The LSAT, or the Law School Admission Test, is a skills-based exam administered by the Law School Admission Council for prospective candidates of law schools. It’s designed to assess your reasoning as well as writing skills, which are the most critical skills that are needed to succeed in law school. It is an integral part of law school admissions in Canada, the United States, and most other countries.
There are two parts to LSAT. The first part is the multiple-choice exam that you have to attend at a test center that is close to your place. The second part is LSAT writing, which involves writing an essay using your computer. However, you will have to install a secure proctoring software as recommended by the Law School Admission.
Accepted by almost all of the ABA-accredited law schools, the LSAT is the only test that will help you determine if you are fit to apply for a law school. Nevertheless, it is essential to study and prepare for the LSAT if you want to achieve a high score. A great way to get started is to take a practice test for the LSAT to assess how much you’ll have to prepare and what sections you need to focus on.
#3. Research Law Schools and Find Out Their Admissions Processes
While you study and prepare for the LSAT, it would be better if you can research some law schools and find out what their admissions processes involve.
The law school you go to will determine how good a lawyer you will be. You have to research the many accredited law schools and find your best fit by factoring various aspects such as cost, location, size, and prestige.
- Check out the rankings and read through a few reviews to find out what you can expect in the law school that you are about to join.
- Compare your scores with the average scores of the school and see how you fit.
- Find out the criteria they follow while accepting applications for admission.
- Get information about the various documents you need to submit along with your admission application.
It is better to apply for a couple of law schools in case you get turned down by a couple of them. Most students apply for about ten schools, while there are quite a few who apply to 20 law schools at a time.
Craft an Application that Will Impress Admission Officers
The task of applying to law schools can be quite challenging. You will have to start early and put in a lot of your time and effort if you want to complete the process successfully. Focus on crafting an impressive application. Make sure it is compelling enough for the admission officers to accept your admission.