Undergraduate Issues

What should I major in?

• Anything you'd like. There are no required majors or courses for law school. Choose a major you like and will do well in, that will sharpen your skills in reading large quantities of information, writing and communicating, and analyzing.
• Law schools consider themselves academic institutions more than professional schools, so they have traditionally had a slight bias towards liberal arts majors over professional schools, though having a professional major will most likely not hurt your application at all.

Is it okay to drop a class?

• Usually schools have a time period during which a student can drop a class without the enrollment or the drop appearing on the student record. Then the only consequence is that the student may be taking less than a full load of coursework for that semester. It is okay to take less than a full load once or twice during your undergraduate years, but it would be unwise to drop below the standard number of units more often than that.
• Law schools want to be sure that you are able to carry a full complement of classes and do well in them. A law school semester requires more work than an undergraduate semester, so anything in your record indicating that you cannot handle a full undergraduate semester sends up a red flag to a law school.
• Most schools, too, allow a student to drop a class later in the semester with some designation made on the transcript - 'W', for example - indicating that the course was dropped but having no negative impact on the GPA. Again, one or two W's during an undergraduate career will have no consequence. Many more W's than that, though, may draw negative attention to the transcript.
• Admissions committees may think that the student shopped around for easy classes, that the student was unwilling to tough out rigorous courses, that the student put little thought into her/his course choices, that the student was unable to handle a full load, or that the student was just plain irresponsible.

Is it okay to take a class pass/fail?

• Yes, like the W's, it's okay to have a couple of "pass" grades on your transcript. More than that will be suspect.
• Also, be careful. LSDAS does not calculate "pass" into a GPA as anything, so it neither hurts nor helps your GPA, but if you choose not to apply to law school and instead apply to some other graduate program, that school may recalculate your GPA and assign a 'pass" the equivalent of 'C.'
• Furthermore, most schools require at least a 'C-' to pass in a pass/fail class. If you get lower than that, you fail under the pass/fail option and receive no credit for the class; since most schools allow anything above D- to count as a pass and receive credit under a graded option, you are in less danger of failing with a grade.
• Similarly, if you think you can get a 'B' or above in the class, that will probably have a positive impact on your GPA (unless you are a straight 'A' student) and might be worth taking for a grade.

What does LSDAS do with my transcript?

• LSDAS recalculates your GPA according to the criteria outlined in their materials and then they send a summary GPA and a copy of your transcripts to each law school.

Will law schools really look at my transcript or will they use the LSDAS GPA?

• Both. Also, don't be deceived into thinking that either law schools or LSDAS will follow any quirky rules your university has in place to pad GPA's. For example, some universities will calculate only the second grade in a course taken twice into a GPA but LSDAS will calculate both grades into the GPA.
• Other institutions are under no obligation to follow the guidelines established at your particular university. In fact, LSDAS is trying to level the playing field by recalculating the GPA under a standardized set of guidelines.
• Admissions committees do use the LSDAS calculation, but admissions committee members routinely look at the transcript itself and don't simply accept the GPA as the final word on your academic ability.

What if I want to explain something in my transcript? Should I do that in my personal statement?

• No. Keep your personal statement strong and positive. Do not use it to justify, explain, or apologize for a deficiency. Consider including an addendum to your application which explains anything which might raise eyebrows. Label it an addendum, write it in essay format, and target one-to-two paragraphs.

Will the fact that my grades have improved help me?

• Yes. Admissions committees look for the "upward trend." Many students get off to a rocky start and show improvement later. Best case scenario: get good grades right from the beginning. Next best: get better and better grades all the time.

Will the admissions committee see my fall grades from senior year?

• Maybe, maybe not. It depends upon when you apply. If you are a strong student and you apply early (November, for example), you may receive an admit before the fall semester is over.
• If you have not heard from your schools by the end of the semester, you'll send a supplemental transcript to LSDAS which will be forwarded to the schools. Then they will have your fall grades during any subsequent deliberations on your file.

I have a higher GPA in my major. That's more important, isn't it?

• No, it isn't. Your cumulative GPA is more important. You don't want law schools to think that you believe some coursework to be worthy of your efforts and some not, especially considering that the courses outside your major are often the very courses that law schools value the most.

Is there anything I can do about my transcript?

• Yes. You can take a year off. That way admissions committees will have your full senior year of coursework calculated into the GPA, which represents a full 25% of your entire academic program, rather than just the first three years' worth.
• This may be especially smart for an applicant who had poor freshman and sophomore years but a strong junior year. The junior year alone may not be enough to assuage the admissions committees' fears about your academic abilities but two full years of strong coursework might be. The bonus: taking a year off is considered a positive thing by admissions committees and will not harm your admissibility one bit.

How important are extra-curricular activities?

• Law schools do not require any extra-curricular activities, and having them on your resume will not improve your application. However, volunteering or participating in student organizations, etc., will help you to learn and grow on a more personal level, so if there is an activity that you are interested in, pursue it.
• Keep in mind though, that grades are of great importance to your law school application, so never allow your participation in extra-curricular activities to diminish your grades

 

 

Admissions

(see The Admissions Process for a more comprehensive explanation)

When should I apply to law school?

• You should apply to law school the fall before you plan to begin your studies. On a broader note, you should apply to law school when you feel that you are emotionally, intellectually and socially ready (see What Else Can I Do To Prepare for Law School? ).

Do I need experience in a law firm before applying?

• Unlike MBA programs, you do not need to have any previous work or legal experience before applying to law school. However, we feel that it is invaluable for you to get some exposure to the law profession before entering law school, simply for the benefit of knowing that you have an actual interest in practicing law (see Why Do You Want to Go to Law School? and Getting Involved).

Where do I get the applications?

• Law school applications are available through many means: you can request them via e-mail, telephone, or fax from the law school itself; for an increasing number of law schools, you can download the applications from the web site; you can find electronic applications at www.lsac.org , using LSACD-Rom or LSACD on the web; you can go to the law school and pick one up from the admissions office; or you can go to a college fair or law school forum and pick one up at an information booth.

What is rolling admissions?

• Most law schools operate under a process of rolling admissions, which means that they evaluate applications as soon as they receive them in the fall, usually starting in late October or early November.
• Some rolling admission schools notify admits as soon as they make the decision, meaning that a pre-law student may get an admission letter mid-fall. Other rolling admissions schools make decisions on a rolling basis but don't notify until winter-spring.

So it's always better to apply early?

• All other thing being equal, it's better to apply early. The benefits: admissions officers will have more time and attention to give your application; there are more seats available as fewer have been given away; and you may get some peace-of-mind by having an early acceptance.
• However, don't get sucked into thinking that applying early will compensate for other sins. The vast majority of students who get accepted early in the process are good enough that they'd also get accepted later in the process.
• Hard and fast rule: higher stats and a stronger later application win out over lower stats and a weaker earlier application.

Are there rolling rejections?

• Some of those decisions will be made on a rolling basis, but unless you have applied to a special early decision program, you aren't likely to receive a rejection until late spring.

How many recommendations do I need?

• This differs between law schools, they may require one, two or three. The smart student includes three in her or his LSDAS file (see Letters of Recommendation).

Who should I get for recommenders?

• Full-time tenured faculty who are familiar with you and your abilities to write and analyze (see Letters of Recommendation).

Will it help if I get a recommendation from someone famous?

• No. Admissions committees are not impressed by letters from politicians, famous attorneys, or anyone else high profile. However, if you are looking for a recommender and you have a true professional or academic relationship with someone well known who personally knows you and your academic abilities, then do not feel like you cannot ask them for a recommendation, either (see Letters of Recommendation).

What is a Dean's Certificate?

• A letter from the dean of your academic department or the Vice President for Student Affairs (Contact Debbie Crawford, 213-740-2421, STU 201). It certifies that you are in good academic standing and that you have no conduct violations

 

LSAT

How many times should I take the LSAT?

• Once. Since LSAT scores are averaged together, it is generally not to your advantage to retake it, even if you scored several points lower than you practice score, which is normal.
• However, if you were ill or there was another extenuating factor that caused you to test significantly lower than you had on previous practice tests (more than 5-6 points), then it is probably in your best interest to retake the test.

How important is my LSAT score in relation to my GPA?

• Equally, if not more important.

Should I take an LSAT prep class?

(see Commercial Test Prep Courses)

What LSAT score do I need to get into Law School?

• With 181 ABA accredited law schools to choose from, there is no set score you need to go to any particular school

When do I take the LSAT?

• The test is offered four times a year, in February, June, October, and December. We recommend taking the June test between your junior and senior year, or alternately the October test at the start of your senior year.

What's on the LSAT?

• There are three sections to the LSAT (see The LSAT for more information).

Can I get a fee waiver for the LSAT, LSDAS or application fees?

• Yes, you must complete an LSAC fee waiver application and qualify. You can pick up the application in the Office of College Advising, CAS 120 or request it online at www.lsac.org.

 

Law Schools

Which schools are the best?

• Rather than taking this approach perhaps you should instead ask which law school will be the best for you. Researching the schools, visiting the campus and talking with your advisor will help you to determine this.

How many schools should I apply to?

• We recommend 1-2 "dream schools", 3 "competitive" schools, and 2 "safety" schools.
• The national average for number of applications submitted, though, is less than 5.

Should I go to a law school in the region I want to practice?

• It's a good idea, but depending the school you attend it is not necessary. Should you attend a "name-brand" school such as Stanford, Columbia, Georgetown, or even most state schools, this will assist you in seeking employment outside of the region you attended school.
• Contrarily, if you attend a small school in New England with only a regional reputation, you will probably find employment more easily and quickly in that region as opposed to other parts of the country.

If I don't go to a top-tier school, will I get a job?

• Whether or not you get a job after graduating from any law school is largely dependent upon you. Factors such as the location of your law school and your class ranking will impact your job search no matter which school you attend.
• However, the general starting salary and the places where graduates seek employment may vary in relation to the admissions standards of schools.
• When reviewing potential law schools, be sure to find out the six-month employment rate of graduates, what kind of services the career center provides, and whether the school hosts onsite recruiting sessions.

What if I don't go to an ABA accredited school?

• We recommend against attending a non-ABA accredited law school unless it is your only option. Should you attend a state accredited school, you will only be able to sit for the bar in that state. You may also have to take a special exam at the end of your first year of school to continue on with your law studies (see ABA vs. CBA).

Should I look for a law school that specializes in my field of interest?

• If you have a definite field of interest, you should include this among your criteria for choosing a law school, but do not make it the sole factor.
• Keep in mind that many students change their mind about a field of specialty once they are in law school. If you are set on a particular emphasis, though, check to see what faculty are doing in that field, how many classes the school offers in that area, and whether the school has any other special programs like clinics or externships that particularly deal with those legal issues.

How much does law school cost? How will I pay for it?

• The cost of attending law school varies greatly from institution to institution, but you can expect to pay between $60,000-$120,000+ for your education.
• We strongly recommend that all students applying for law school also apply for financial aid by filing a FAFSA, even if you do not think you will qualify. Some schools, such as the USC Law School , will not consider you for scholarships unless you have applied for financial aid.
• If you do not qualify for financial aid, you will still be eligible to take out commercial loans. The law school will be able to provide you with a list of preferred lenders that may have special rates for their students, but you can also receive loans from your bank or credit union, Sallie Mae or other commercial lending corporations.

Can I go to law school part-time?

• Some law schools do offer part time programs. The admissions stats for part-time programs tend to be the same or a little lower than the full time admissions stats for a given school.

• Most part time programs allow you to graduate in four years. All in all, we feel it is better for your education to attend law school full time, but if that is not possible going to school part time is a viable option.