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Ann K. Levine, Esq. 805-683-2837 -or- |
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"I recommended Ann to a friend who was in a similar situation (low LSAT score, high expectations) and she helped her get into a great school that – like me- should have been out of her reach based on her numbers.” - P. A., New York |
Law School Application and Admission FAQs
How do we get started on my law school applications? After our free initial consultation, I will see that you’ve signed up to get started through my web site. I immediately create an account for you on my web application that allows us to share documents and drafts and send messages to each other in a way that can be accessed no matter where you are (work, school, home, etc.). I upload a Questionnaire for you to fill out, a 12-page “Getting Started Packet” with a to-do list, information about how to start working on your law school personal statement and a brainstorming exercise, a sample letter of recommendation and other tools. After I receive your questionnaire responses, I create a personalized timeline that takes you through the entire process from the day you sign up until your last application is out. You can even sync this calendar with iCal or have it send you e-mail reminders. My clients tell me this tool really helps them prioritize, stay motivated, and avoid feeling overwhelmed by all of the work there is to do. Plus, you check off each item as you finish it so we both monitor your progress. If I'm submitting different admission essays for different schools, will you review each of them? Yes. Unlimited review and editing of as many essays as you write is included in Option A - "The Works" Package. I’ll even help you tailor each essay to the school’s requirements, cutting down Berkeley’s 4-pager to 250 words for Tulane (for example). This includes guidance with the "Why Duke" and "Why Penn State" essays and school-specific conclusions that help move you from the "wait list" pile to the "admit right now" pile. Do you have a sample law school personal statement? Your personal statement needs to portray your individual strengths, maturity, work experience, accomplishments and diversity. The personal statements in the essay books are over-the-top sob stories that would never work in real life. You need an essay that conveys who you are and what is important to you. It must sound like you; no cookie-cutter essays here. Every personal statement is different, and should be different, because it should highlight your own strengths and personality. I do not generally believe in personal statement samples or examples - I give each client direction on how to get started writing and what to write about, followed by intensive feedback on content and subject matter. However, the following is an example of a personal statement that worked wonders for one client. He was accepted to Berkeley (where he is currently attending), Cornell, and other top law schools. The Dean of the University of Illinois even called him to tell him how moved he was by this essay, so here is one example (but not the best or only example) of a personal statement Example of a personal statement for law school application: "Where do you live?" This was the easy question. It was the follow-up questions that posed a greater problem. This was not just any ordinary person asking, this was an attorney in the law firm where I worked. If I hid now, from a lawyer, I knew a series of complicated semantic shifts and half-truths would follow, requiring me to constantly be on guard. I ran through my informal checklist. Andrew was male, over 30, and while not overtly religious, I did not know where he was educated or where he grew up. Based on this information (or lack thereof), I chose not to tell him that I live in a one-bedroom apartment with my partner, whose gender would have given away the fact that I am a homosexual. In high school I lived in fear of being discovered after a teacher warned that coming out of the closet would jeopardize my safety. My experience in college differed dramatically; my floor mates accepted my homosexuality. I thought the world of hatred was behind me until I joined the Coming Out Group, a group of men who met in secret. I went to the first meeting expecting a social group, but soon found myself in shock over the intense difficulties my peers faced. Each week, I heard horror stories of classmates whose parents refused to talk to them, put them into therapy or threatened to disown them if they stayed gay. One student never got invited to social events with his male co-workers. As I worked more with the group, eventually becoming its leader, I helped classmates deal with these hardships. As I watched others struggle, I started treading more carefully. The trick was figuring out who could be trusted and who could not. I developed a foolproof way of distinguishing one from the other. It was at this point that I began forming the mental checklist. Then I found myself back in Andrew's office, where he asked me about my weekend plans. This time, I began my response with the words My boyfriend and I. Without a moment's hesitation he simply replied, Oh, that sounds like fun. His reaction, or lack thereof, stunned me. My checklist had pointed me in the wrong direction. Even more troubling was the realization that I was the victim of my own stereotyping, not Andrew's. Because of fear, I began to judge some people more harshly than they judged me. My own fear has held me back from relationships with people far more than reality has. Each incorrect judgment I made in the past perhaps halted a relationship from forming. Since becoming aware of this pattern, I have changed the way I approach meeting new people. I admit I still use my checklist; but I remember the items on that list are just guidelines, not rules, and I am cautious in making judgments too quickly. Approaching a problem with a rigid mind loses critical nuances. As I enter law school, I will take this lesson with me. By P.A., New York (to be attending Boalt Hall College of Law) Do you have testimonials from your law school admissions clients? Tons! Visit my law school expert testimonials page and my law school admissions case study page for more client testimonials beyond the ones below. "Of all the people that I looked at, I thought that Ann was the best choice. She was affordable (a HUGE plus) and extremely qualified. . . Ann turned out to be absolutely fantastic! I used her to help with everything, from my personal statement to filing out my applications to writing supplements for my applications. She helped me craft a personal statement that I (and everyone who read it) thought was superb, especially compared to my first pre-Ann drafts. She was always extremely fast in responding to my e-mails (usually within 24 hours or less). We worked together from July until I had put down my deposit and for most the time we exchanged daily e-mails. What made working with her so great was that I really felt like she took a personal interest in my success . . . At the end of the day, I got into two Top-14 schools (Cornell and Berkeley) when my LSAT score should have excluded me from them. I really think that it was Ann's help that got me into those schools. At one school, both my LSAT score and GPA were low and I got in probably because I had a really strong personal statement. I'm headed to Berkeley in the fall and I have Ann to thank. I recommended Ann to a friend who was in a similar situation (low LSAT score, high expectations) and she helped her get into a great school that - like me - should have been out of her reach based on her numbers. Ann is really great and I think that as law school admissions is getting more and more competitive, it is essential to have a person as qualified and competitive as Ann in your corner. I know I wouldn't want to be competing with applicants who did." - P.A., New York (6/06) How much time will you spend working with me? As much time as you need. You are welcome to call and e-mail me as often as you like. It's like having your own law school expert on retainer. There is no “use it or lose it” three-month time limit; I’m with you through the entire admission cycle. The sooner you sign up, the more you will be able to take advantage of having a personal coach through the law school admission process. I’m here for you to help decide where to attend and to give advice about how to get moved up on a wait list. I love to get happy phone calls from my clients when they’ve gotten into law school and gotten scholarships to law school. How do you compare with other law school admission consultants I've found online? First, keep in mind that I'm the former director of law school admissions, and was primarily responsible for all admission decisions for two ABA law schools. About 80% of law school admission decisions are made by directors of admission and you’ll have a former law school director of admissions helping you through the process. Second, I do not limit my time with each client. I spend as much time with you as you need, almost always answering your questions within hours. Others charge extra for "rush" service - I turn everything around quickly because it's important to get your applications in as early as possible. In addition, other companies give you 3 months "use it or lose it" on their time with you - I give you the entire admission cycle to utilize my services. If you’re applying for Fall 2010, you have me at your disposal from the time you sign up until the time you start law school in the fall. All of your questions will be answered by someone who actually made law school admission decisions - me! I am the only person who helps you decide how to approach difficult issues in your applications, such as what to write about in your essays, how to explain a weakness in your application, where to apply to law school, how to answer a particular law schools questions, etc. Then, in addition to my expertise and advice about each piece of your application, you also will benefit from the feedback of an experienced professional proofreader and editor for the final drafts of all documents. This editor works only for me and is specially trained in law school application materials by me. I’m accessible and available, even if all you need sometimes is a little reassurance that you’re on track and doing the right things. Also, my "The Works" Package of services is the best deal I've found for law school admission consulting. The price includes a Personalized Timeline, Questionnaire, Personal Statement Brainstorming Exercise, and handouts created by Ann Levine on these topics: Six Secrets to A Successful Personal Statement, Law School Admission Timeline Tips and Tricks, and Letters of Recommendation Hints. Only with Law School Expert will you know (before payment) the caliber of the admission counselor who will be guiding you through such an important time in your life. The other companies make you no promises about the experience of the counselor who will be assigned to you. I personally respond to 80% of calls and emails within a few hours, and 99% of the time will get back to you within 24 hours. Personal statement reviews are completed within 48 hours 99% of the time. Can I decide to upgrade from the Personal Statement Package to The Works Package? Absolutely! I will apply the difference between the amount you've paid toward the amount due. I will only charge you an additional $100 service fee to do so. How familiar are you with law schools outside of California? Very! I work with applicants from all over the country and worked with admission directors from law schools nationwide. All law schools are looking for the same qualities in their students and I know how to best bring those qualities to the forefront of your application. I have an equal number of clients in New York as I do in California. How do I arrange my free consultation? Call me locally at 805-683-2837, or toll free at 1-877-LAW-SKOL (1-877-529-7565) right now to speak directly to me, or e-mail me to let me know how and when I can best reach you. E-mail: Law School Expert What kind of experience do you have in law school admissions? As Director of Admissions at ABA law schools, I recruited students, reviewed every application submitted, and decided whether to admit, reject, wait-list, or send a file to committee review with my recommendation. I also awarded entrance scholarships to outstanding applicants. I know who your competition is and what you need to do to use the application process to your advantage. I know how you will be judged and what matters in a law school application. How many people do you work with at a time? How do I know I’ll get the attention I deserve? I take on the same number of clients each year so I have it down to a system. It’s really important to me that I turn personal statements around within a business day or two, that I return resumes and addenda and shorter review items within a day or day and a half, and that I return all e-mails and phone calls promptly. As a result, I track the number of clients I take on at each point and how many people I have applying at different times of the year, and I can estimate really well from that whether I’m capable of continuing to take on clients. When I feel I cannot, I put sign-ups on hold. I do everything in my power to deliver the absolute best customer service, to be so responsive to my clients that it actually surprises them how quickly I get things back, and to provide the highest quality law school admission advice available. For more about what my clients think, please see my law school expert testimonials. |
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© 2010 Ann K. Levine, Esq |
