How to Get Into Law School
Like other professional degree programs, getting into law school can be a difficult, long and challenging process. A prospective attorney should begin taking steps towards getting into law school while in high school. Hopefully the tips provided in this article can help you learn how to get into law school easier.
During high school you should pay extra attention in classes such as:
- Economics
- Humanities
- Social Studies
- History
- Communications
- Debate
- Foreign Languages
- English
- Government
- Mathematics
Other things you can do during high school to help you get into law school are talking with your counselor, librarians and teachers. School counselors can be a great resource to an eager student looking for information about colleges, scholarships, grants and loans. Librarians can assist you with specific books, videos and audio recordings of things such as historic trials and changes in the law. Learning this type of information during high school can greatly benefit a prospective lawyer. Most teachers are also willing do dedicate one-on-one time to students who show an interest in particular studies.
Getting into law school doesn’t require a specific degree of law. Instead, many students are encouraged to develop skills during their undergraduate years in a variety of areas such as writing, speaking, researching, analyzing, reading, and thinking logically. Courses that should be taken to help you develop these necessary skills include:
- English
- Foreign Language
- Communications
- Debate
- Analytics
- Economics
- History
- Philosophy
- Government
- Public Speaking
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
- Contracts
Students at this level should also begin researching the 200 ABA-accredited law schools. Learning deadlines, application requirements, fees, schedules, calendar events and other things about each school can be useful when narrowing down your list of schools to apply to. Many prospective lawyers also begin to narrow down which type of lawyer they want to become. Taking additional courses in accounting or mathematics for example, can benefit someone who is interested in becoming a tax attorney.
Taking the LSAT
Taking the law school admission test is a national requirement for getting into law school. All jurisdictions require applicant’s to take this test, but it’s only given at four specific times per year. And because it’s a national test, all jurisdictions follow the same testing times, dates, break schedules, etc. Most law schools want a test taker to have completed the exam before the December date to qualify for the following fall semester. This is why many schools advise candidates to take the test earlier in the year, either during February or June dates.
Getting Into Law School
There are 200 ABA-accredited law schools around the world. Competition is usually harder when trying to get into Harvard, Yale or Cornell, rather than when trying to get into smaller, less-known schools like Widener Law in Delaware. It’s important to keep in mind that in most cases a new graduate goes on to practice law in the jurisdiction where they attended law school. So choosing where to go to school can be a difficult task.
Law schools have specific requirements for each of their applicants. It’s very, very important that you know information such as deadlines, fees, and which documents are needed for submittal. Most law schools look at the following information from applicants who are applying to their school each year:
- LSAT scores
- Previous GPA scores
- Where you received your undergraduate degree
- Prior work experience
- One’s ability to study law
In some cases, the law school may require an interview or two. This is usually just a part of their enrollment process. Check with the law school you are interested in to find out if they require an interview.
Additional tips for getting into law school:
- Only apply to law schools you truly want to attend. The application process can become time consuming and costly, so try to keep your list to 10 or under at first.
- Keep your expectations in check. Don’t assume that you’ve met all of their requirements and are in. Over half of all prospective lawyers do not get into the law school of their dreams.
- Stand out from the crowd. Think of your application as your resume for a job. Highlight your credentials, experience, dedication and passion for studying law.
