Categories: Advice, Law School Location, Law School Location; Law School Rankings, Law School Rankings
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Thanks to Brian Leiter for posting a link to this article in the WSJ. Here is more support for why you shouldn’t shoose law schools based on rankings alone, and a list of factors you should consider when deciding where to apply and where to attend.
I’m thrilled this issue is garnering publicity at this crucial point in the law school application season. Remember, the idea when choosing where to apply is to keep your options open so you have decisions to make in the spring/summer.
Categories: Advice, Law School Admission Trends
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I ran across a great article in the Daily Bruin regarding the decreasing number of law school applicants. I have a feeling this will change next year because the economy/mortgage industry crashed too close to the deadline for LSAT registrations to make an impact this year. (Not that I’m an economist; this is just my hunch). However, it’s also interesting to note that very competitive law schools (in this case, UCLA) is actually seeing an increase in the quality of the applicants they are admitting to law school – it’s not necessarily getting easier to get in.
Categories: Diversity
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Here is an article about the role diversity plays in law school admissions at two great public law schools – ASU and U of A.
Categories: Law School Location; Law School Rankings
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Worth reading this week:
For humor about a very special Yale Law School graduate
And for a great perspective on the recent “how to pick a law school” debate concerning debt and future income, please see the letter to the editor for preLaw Magazine. I was very impressed with this article. In addition to stressing location as being important, Jack Crittenden talks about picking a law school with reaonable tuition. I’m sure he would agree with me about findnig a law school where you are competitive for scholarships as well.
Also in preLaw magazine this week is a good article about Thomas Cooley law school. The law school makes the case that they give people a shot and they do make it sound very noble. I was actually surprised to learn that in 2006, 185 Cooley students transferred to other law schools. That’s incredibly promising; it means that other ABA schools repect Cooley enough to admit students who do well there.
Categories: Re-Applying to Law School
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One of my clients forwarded a great tip to me today and I want to pass it on to you:
For people that are resubmitting their law school applications for the second year: If you applied before you graduated last year, you need to resubmit final academic transcripts to LSAC, so that your LSDAS reports reflect the most current information. You can go on your account at LSAC and check the date on which your transcript was processed this will tell you whether or not you’ve submitted the most current version of your academic record(s).
Categories: Advice, Application Timeline
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Here are the big questions today:
Q: Can I submit applications even though LSAC hasn’t received/processed my letters of rec yet?
A: YES
Q. Should I put my name and LSAC Account number on each attachment to my application?
A. YES
Q. Should I check each school’s web site for the application requirements instead of relying on the LSDAS on line application?
A. YES
I hope this is helpful to those of you up late tonight working on your applications. Just never press “submit” at midnight. Seriously. That’s how mistakes are made.
And since it’s now approaching midnight on the West Coast, I’ll say goodnight. To my So Cal clients and friends – stay safe. I hope the fires are not affecting you.
Categories: Advice, Rolling Admissions
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Ok, some of you – all of you – are going to HATE me for posting this today but I have to brag big time. One of my clients who was SUPER on the ball following the June LSAT heard back today from her first law school and already has an acceptance letter and scholarship in-hand!
Here is the e-mail I received tonight:
I just wanted to let you know that I received a phone call earlier this evening from the Dean of the University of Richmond informing me that I have been accepted. She encouraged me to visit and said that he is very excited that I knew about their ******* program and wanted to be involved in it. She also told me she would love to reward my hard efforts and hard work at ******* University with a scholarship. I can’t tell you how exciting it was to hear I have been accepted somewhere and I am so thankful to you for all of your help thus far. I am still in shock that the Dean of the law school actually called me to tell me this; it was incredible.
Ok – for the rest of you, what does this mean? It’s not too late! But I want you to know your letter with good news (or phone call or e-mail) will come if you put the effort in. It does pay off – this period of stress and uncertainty does not go on forever. Just stay focused on your goal.
Categories: LSAT
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Check your e-mail! LSAT scores have been released.
What to do now?
Should you re-take it in December? There are 2 things to consider:
(1) Did you score within 5-8 points of your consistent practice exam scores? For example, if you scored a 158 and you were hitting practice scores in the low 160s, then the 158 is probably the right score for you unless something strange happened to you during the exam. If not, and you scored 8-10+ points lower on the real thing, definitely consider re-taking it in December if you have the time to prepare adequately for it.
(2) Is it worth the set-back in the rolling admissions process? Perhaps. Would it bring you a significant/meaningful jump in the percentile ranking of your score? A 150-155 may not sound like much but on this LSAT it meant the difference between 44th percentile and 64th percentile. Would 5 points be more important than having your application reviewed in November? Probably not. But there are still things you can do to get your applications ready now – pick smart schools based on your current score and your presumed increse. Apply to them. Get your LORs submitted. That way, all the school will have to do is wait for your new score before reviewing your application. It can buy you a little time, as opposed to applying after receiving your new score.
I’m OK with my score. Now What?
1. Create a schools list. There’s a lot of chatter in the pre-law blogosphere about how to do this. My plentiful comments on this are available throughout the blog’s archives, but here’s a link to a posting about the importance of law school location.
2. Start applying! You don’t need your LORs finished – you can still go ahead and apply. (That’s a common question I get at this time of year.
I’m here for questions, comments, and -of course- law school admission consulting.
Hope your news is good news.
Categories: Transfer Applicants
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Earning great grades your first year can be a ticket into a fantastic law school (as my clients have proven time and time again – transferring from Touro to Cardozo, Golden Gate to William and Mary, Catholic to Georgetown). Here are some worthwhile insights into what the law schools are thinking, and how law firms might evaluate your record. I agree with the first comment under the post, by the way.
Categories: Advice
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Last night I had so much fun speaking to 60 or so Phi Alpha Delta members at UCSB. People asked great questions about choosing an area of law to mention in their personal statements, who should write letters of rec and what they should say, and whether to take time off after college. I shared with the group 9 things they could do in college – whether first years or 5th years – to improve the quality of their law school applications and chances for admission to law school. Here are my tips:
1. Get to know your professors. It’s not too late for seniors. LSDAS will hold onto letters for 5 years, so if you end up taking time off next year you won’t have to re-contact professors and remind them about who you are and what you did.
2. Don’t join anything just to join. If something really interests you, become an active leader in that organization. It doesn’t have to be the pre-law club (again, sorry Marla!) but if it is Phi Alpha Delta, be a leader in it and not just someone who writes the name of the club on his resume after paying dues. (Marla, have I redeemed myself with that one?)
3. Find your niche. Use college to explore things that really interest you and find the connection between them.
4. Grades always matter. If you don’t end up going to law school next year, everyone will see this year’s grades so keep going! Plus, if you’re waitlisted somewhere and want to add something impressive to your file, there’s nothing like an improved GPA in your senior year.
5. Watch yourself on myspace and facebook and google….. Be professional in presenting yourself to the public because you are trying to show you can be a lawyer one day soon.
6. Be careful about minor in possession tickts, DUIs and Academic Probation. Show you can exercise good judgment by not finding yourself in these situations.
7. Prepare adequately for the LSAT – that means 2-3 months of solid prep.
8. Find meaning in what you are doing. Don’t pick a major because it “looks good” or because your father thought accounting would be a good major for finding a job after college. You’ll do better with subject that interest you and inspire you. Likewise, pick activities that have meaning for you and really get involved with them.
9. Use this time to really explore what you want to do. Don’t take an internship at a law firm for your resume’s sake if it’s really a sports agency that interests you, or a non-profit, or a soup kitchen… Spend your time in a way that shows who you really are and that will encourage your growth.
Thanks so much to Marla and Lindsey, Vanessa, Billy and Crystal and the rest of the UCSB chapter for inviting me to speak again this year.
Categories: Lawsagna Interview
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Thanks to Lawsagna for interviewing me for today’s blog posting. In it, I provide study tips for law student and insights for law school applicants on managing the stress of the law school admission process. I look forward to your comments and thoughts!
Categories: Advice
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I’ve been checking a lot of law school applications this weekend and I want to remind all law school applicants to proofread their application forms very carefully before clicking “Submit”.
Here are the 5 Most Common Mistakes in Law School Applications:
1. Sending School A’s personal statement to School B !!!
2. Messing up the dates on employment positions.
3. Forgetting to check off boxes, leaving the application incomplete and unable to be processed.
4. Not following directions about how to label attachments.
5. Playing with margins and fonts instead of really taking the time to analyze whether each word in your essay is necessary for its effectiveness.
I know you’re exhausted, but this is not the time for laziness or lack of attention to detail. This is the stuff that matters so do it when you’re alert and not feeling rushed. Only then should you click that nervewracking “submit” button.
Categories: Intellectual Property Law
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This popped up today – Virginia Tech and U. Richmond law school are teaming up to offer a combined Bachelor degree and Juris doctor degree in intellectual property law. That’s pretty cool!
Categories: Application Timeline
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Here are some things you can do while waiting for your LSAT score:
1. Work on your personal statement.
2. Fine-tune your resume.
3. Make sure letters of rec are being sent to LSDAS.
4. Send your transcripts to LSDAS.
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Ann K. Levine, Esq., former director of law school admissions for two ABA law schools, is a law school admission consultant and owner of Law School Expert,
