As is the case with most aspects of law school, the admissions process is relatively similar for most schools. Below is a summary of the general process, along with a list of the factors that are considered in the process, as well as a brief description of these factors and their relative importance. It is important to note that in recent years a crop of high priced admissions advisers have cropped up across the country, touting themselves as "Law School Geniuses" and marketing their services at phenomenally high prices. While the information contained in this blog is just a "general description" there are thousands of online resources which provide detailed and accurate information on the application process. It may be frivolous to spend thousands of dollars on these so called "Geniuses" when you can find all the pertinent facts yourself on the information super highway in 20 minutes or less. After all, where do you think these advisers-for-hire have gained their so called insight into the law application process? Generally, unless they have logged some serious hours in the admissions office of a high tier law school, they may posses no more knowledge than you might after a few well placed clicks of the mouse and a phone call or two. A friend of mine in New York lost nearly $4,000 on an advisor who shall remain nameless for the sake of legalities. He held off purchasing an engagement ring in order to afford this worthless luxury. This is not to say that all law school application advisers are fools gold. It is plausible that they may offer valuable insight to nervous applicants. The bottom line is the level of their effectiveness is difficult to measure since the variety of student who is willing to pay such exaggerated fees mostly has an outstanding GPA and/or LSAT score and would likely achieve acceptance without any further guidance. The weight that a particular admissions committee attaches to a certain criteria will vary across law schools. However, the amount of variation tends to be small. Generally, there are two types of admissions decision making processes, that I call the quantitative approach and the holistic approach. The quantitative approach tends to focus primarily on a combination of LSAT scores and undergraduate GPA. Conversely, with the holistic approach, LSAT score and GPA are two of many factors that the admissions committees use to make decisions.
Economics is one of several majors frequently used to prepare for law school, especially for those interested in corporate or business law. Law schools look most favorably on a traditional disciplinary major, as long as you do very well in it .
Earn Excellent Grades.
Depending upon the quality of the law school, that could well mean at least the top 10 percent of your class.
Perform Very Well on the LSAT.
Performing very well on the LSAT is absolutely essential to getting into any law school. Buy LSAT preparation books early (in your sophomore year) and test yourself repeatedly. Then seriously consider taking one of the LSAT preparation courses either in the spring of your junior or the summer before your senior year. LSAT scores are averaged, so plan to take them early in your senior year when you are feeling well and rested.
Do a Law-Related Internship.
Law schools say internships don't matter much on an application, but they can help you decide whether law school is worth all the struggle.
Choose the Right Courses.
Although law schools say there are no particular courses in any discipline that will especially aid an application, they often recommend courses that emphasize comprehension, analysis, and writing. Certain courses introduce you to different aspects of the law and can help determine your area of interest; Business Law (BUS 222), Constitutional Law (POLS 363), and Civil Liberties Law (POLS 364) are three examples. Courses in critical thinking, logic, and mathematics are also suggested.
