The law school process is complex but need not be confusing. The LSAC website offers complete details. LSAC also provides general information about how law schools make admission decisions. Make sure to add your name to the email list to receive alerts about on-campus programming here. Below are basic steps for applying to law school:
Undergraduates will first decide if law school is their next best step; oftentimes taking time to be employed or explore other involvements can be personally valuable and strengthen both your focus on and your law school admission candidacy for. Consult widely with Lafayette College resources and people you trust as you explore your options.
You will need to think honestly about when it is best for you to schedule to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). It might seem obvious, but you will want to take the real LSAT only after you have had sufficient time to prepare and practice in order to produce your optimal LSAT score. Typically, most juniors plan to take the LSAT in September of their senior year because the preceding summer months are ideal for test preparation without the stresses of being enrolled in a normal semester. The list of LSAT test dates can be found here on the LSAC website.
Applicants need to register for the LSAT with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC). The test registration deadline is about 6 weeks prior to the test. There are ever-expanding ways to prepare for the LSAT. Explore your options and feel free to consult with Maureen Walz and others as you seek the right fit.
At the time you register for the LSAT you will have an option to register for the free Candidate Referral Service (CRS). Participating in this service allows LSAC to share your LSAT score and other data with law schools that might reach out to you, possibly with fee waivers for their application fee.
Increasing numbers of law schools now accept the GRE for admission. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) updates a list of law schools accepting the GRE; students are advised to discuss their testing plans with an advisor to determine what is best for them. Each law school seems to have its own manner of handling the GRE option.
The Credential Assembly Service provides applicants with an efficient service that collects certain information (i.e. your transcript and LSAT score) to develop your individual Law School Report. This report is then sent to the law schools you apply to electronically through the LSAC site. This is a service for which you pay LSAC. You should establish your account several months before you apply. Once you have an account, you can check the status of materials being collected in it. Letters of recommendation are held in your CAS so you can monitor whether or not your letters of recommendation have arrived from your writers. Unlike the other components of the CAS file, the applicant actually selects the letters filed there to attach them to the electronic law school application. Read about this process here.
LSAC has a process for applicants to qualify for a fee waiver for their services.
The resume and personal statement are sent with your individual, online law school applications. Our counselors in the Gateway Career Center Office are available to assist with the development and refinement of your resume. Maureen Walz is available to assist with the conceptualization and review of your law school application personal statement.
Once you have your LSAT score and your materials are in process, see Maureen Walz to discuss and develop your application strategies.
The earlier you can apply in the fall semester the better. Even though application deadlines are typically in March, many law schools practice rolling admissions and will review applications as they arrive. After your decisions are in, consult with Maureen Walz to discuss your options.