Frequently Asked Questions
What factors are considered in law school admission decisions?When should the LSAT be taken?
Should the LSAT be taken for practice?
Should a student take one of the commercial LSAT preparation courses?
What major should a student choose?
Will a double major increase a student's chances of getting into law school?
Are foreign languages required for admission to law school?
Are pre-law students required to take specific courses?
When should a student apply to law school?
To how many law schools should one apply?
Which are the best law schools?
How expensive is law school, and how can one pay for it?
A student has a low GPA but really wants to study law. What are their options?
Should a student go straight to law school or take some time off?
If a student is working next year, should they apply now and defer, or wait until next autumn?
What factors are considered in law school admission decisions?
There are basically two factors involved in the law school admission decision: the student's GPA and their score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Those who have sufficiently strong scores are admitted. Those who do not are rejected. Applications in the middle range are enhanced by excellent recommendations and by evidence of extracurricular activities, internships and foreign travel.
When should the LSAT be taken?
Ideally, students should take the LSAT in June between their junior and senior years. Generally, students are less busy in June than they will be during the semester when the other test dates occur. Furthermore, if they don't score as highly as they had hoped, it is not too late to retake the test in late September/October prior to the fall in which they plan to enter law school.
Should the LSAT be taken for practice?
No, definitely not. Whenever any LSAT scores are reported, all of the scores are reported. So every score is important. However, if the first attempt was influenced by unexpected circumstances, one might want to consider retaking the test.
Should a student take one of the commercial LSAT preparation courses?
Approximately 40 percent of law school applicants have taken a commercial preparation course. Students who have taken them report that such courses do familiarize them with the format of the test and reduce their test anxiety. These students also report significant improvement in test scores. If a student chooses to take one of these courses, they should be taken as near to the time of the actual test as possible.
Commercial preparation courses are not going to harm the student. On the other hand, if a student has real discipline, the preparation test may not do anything for them that they cannot do for themselves. The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) sells preparation packets that contain previously administered tests. Supplemented with a good preparation book, a student can prepare quite well. Preparation books can be found at any college bookstore.
No preparation course can help develop analytical or reading skills in three or four weeks. They can, however, provide information about the reading, writing and reasoning skills that will be tested by the LSAT.
What major should a student choose?
Law school requires strong writing and clear thinking skills, not exhaustive preparation in a specific discipline. The ASU General Studies requirements and the other requirements of each college afford the opportunity to gain these tools regardless of major.
Undergraduate majors in history, political science, English and economics are well represented in law schools. A student should major in something they enjoy. If they enjoy what they are studying, they are likely to earn better grades, which in turn will increase chances of gaining admission to the law school of their choice.
Will a double major increase a student's chances of getting into law school?
No. A double major is fine if a student wants to complete two degrees and thereby gain a broader knowledge base. But having two degrees is irrelevant in terms of law school admission.
Are foreign languages required for admission to law school?
No. Learning a foreign language can sharpen analytical skills and increase understanding of English, but, strictly speaking, study of a foreign language has little impact on the admission decision.
Are pre-law students required to take specific courses?
No. Law schools are looking for students who can read, write and think clearly and concisely. Some courses are better than others at helping to develop these capacities.
When should a student apply to law school?
In August/September, a year before the student plans to enter law school, they should do three things: 1) write to law schools to obtain catalogs and applications, 2) sign up for the October LSAT, if they did not take the June test, and 3) consult with a designated pre-law advisor. Applications should be completed as early as possible, preferably in November or December.
To how many law schools should one apply?
As a general rule of thumb, a student should apply to one or two schools to which they have an outside chance of being admitted, one or two where they will be very competitive, and one or two "sure things." On average, students apply to about five schools. Keep in mind that each law school charges an application fee, so this may limit the number of law schools to which a student applies.
Which are the best law schools?
This depends on a large number of factors. Obviously, some schools have better reputations than others, but that doesn't mean they are the best school for the applying individual. Some students are looking for small classes. Some law schools spend more time on courtroom training (advocacy training) than others do. Other schools may offer programs that focus more heavily on a particular area attractive to the applicant (e.g., tax law, environmental law, immigration). Private schools cost more than state schools. Students should not to be overly influenced by all the lists purporting to rank law schools. Rather, they should examine a school's curriculum, size, location and other salient characteristics important to them when deciding where they would like to attend. This is a major life investment, so great care should be taken in the selection process.
How expensive is law school, and how can one pay for it?
State schools in general are less expensive than private schools. Tuition alone can range from a few thousand to almost $30,000 per year. After including housing, food, books and personal expenses, the total for legal education could be as high as $140,000. Limited scholarship resources are available, and every school will have a financial aid office to help explore payment options. Most law students borrow money to go to school and there are several loan programs. Assuming a student has a good credit rating, they will be able to obtain a loan if they are admitted to an ABA-approved law school.
A student has a low GPA but really wants to study law. What are their options?
If a student is truly interested in studying law, there are several law schools nationally where admission is based more on subjective evaluations of ability to be successful. This does not mean that the programs at these schools are easier, simply that they have different admission philosophies. An advisor can help identify schools to optimize chances of admission.
What are some common backup plans in case a student is not accepted at one of the law schools of their choice?
It is best to take some time off from school and work. Law school can remain an option in another three to five years, after the student gains some experience in business. One may sort out personal strengths and interests, and investigate professional opportunities. Work experience will also make an individual far more competitive in the legal job market once they graduate from law school. Some students further investigate the field of law by becoming a paralegal. Paralegal educational programs exist, but some law firms hire bachelor degree candidates for a one- to two-year period and train them as paralegals. Ultimately, whatever an individual chooses to do will broaden their experience; and, if they can articulate their experience well in writing, all of their accomplishments will strengthen their application for admission.
An individual may want to reevaluate the law schools to which they applied. They may have set their original expectations far too high, and in reapplying they may need to set more realistic admission goals. If they are truly interested in studying the law, there is a law school for them, and it will give them the skills necessary to pass the state bar exam. Earning a successful living as a lawyer requires many attributes not taught in law school.
Some students consider graduate programs to improve their competitiveness for admission to law school. Not all law schools review this course work in the admission process, so students should be aware of the policy of the particular law school(s) in which they are interested.
One last option is to attend a less competitive law school for the first year and look to transfer for the second and third year. This plan is generally good for students who truly excel in their first year of law school and can pinpoint specific reasons why they were unable to be as successful in their undergraduate education.
Should one go straight to law school or take some time off?
It depends.... An applicant with no professional experience may well be admitted to a prestigious law program but may not, ultimately, gain as much from law school as if he or she had waited awhile. On the other hand, several years in the working world may not guarantee admittance for an applicant with a mediocre undergraduate record or poor LSAT scores. Certainly, a student will lose nothing by waiting (assuming that they spend their time gainfully). Quality time away can bolster an otherwise lackluster application and may add another facet to a student's experience in law school itself.
If a student is working next year, should they apply now and defer, or wait until next autumn?
In general, it is wise to wait until credentials are as strong as possible — the combination of a complete four-year transcript and some professional experience will certainly be helpful to law school admission committees as they evaluate an application. Law schools are under no obligation to grant deferrals.
For how long is an LSAT score applicable?
Five years, although many law schools will not accept scores older than three years. Students should check the requirements of each law school to which they wish to apply.
