Earning a law degree takes dedication.
If you are thinking about earning a law degree, you are not alone. According to the Law School Admission Council, the fall of 2009 saw 86,600 law school applicants. That same year, schools admitted only 58,400 students. In the 2009 to 2010 Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT, season, 171,514 hopefuls took the LSAT. There are, consequently, a greater number of applicants vying for roughly the same number of law school openings each year. You can improve your chances of being accepted to law school and earning your law degree if you apply yourself.
Instructions
Plan Ahead
1. Visit the Law School Admission Council, or LSAC, website and set up an account. This will be your portal to the entire admissions process and a site where you will find a wealth of helpful information. The LSAC's Credential Assembly Service, or CAS, will assist you in compiling your admissions materials later.
2. Study for the Law School Admissions Test, or LSAT. All American Bar Association--accredited law schools require applicants to take the LSAT. The test is comprised of five 35-minute multiple-choice sections covering reading comprehension, analytical reasoning and logical reasoning. You will also need to complete a 35-minute writing sample at the end of the test, so be sure to hone your essay-writing skills as part of your studies.
3. Take the LSAT. It is administered four times a year at specified testing centers around the world. You should register as early as possible for the date and testing site you want, as this will increase the likelihood that you will be assigned to your first-choice location. On the day of the test, you will need your admissions ticket, two types of acceptable identification and three or four sharpened pencils.
4. Submit your transcripts and letters of recommendation to LSAC's CAS. Make sure their file includes your LSAT score(s) and writing sample(s). Other relevant information, such as prior matriculation or evaluations, will be compiled here as well. Once your file is complete, law schools will be able to request your CAS law school report.
5. Apply to the law schools of your choice. Consider location, reputation, programs of interest and financial support. Be sure to assess your qualifications realistically; law schools will. In addition to each school's admissions application, you will need to pay for a CAS law school report for each school to which you apply.
After You Are Accepted
6. Go to your law school orientation. This will help connect you with other students early on and introduce you to the school's resources. This will also serve as an opportunity to check your class schedule and buy your books and materials. Most professors assign reading prior to the first class; find out what it is now.
7. Attend classes regularly. Professors use the Socratic method to question students. Pay attention even when you are not the one on the spot; it will reinforce your understanding of the subject matter.
8. Do all the required reading. Your professors assigned it for a reason. Reading case law and the author's commentary will be essential to understanding the law and its application. You may need to cite case law in your exams. Do not skip the footnotes unless your professor tells you to do so.
9. Form a study group or join one that is already established. Your peers are useful resources, sounding boards and collaborators. Consider assigning and sharing outlines.
10. Talk to your professors. Many will make themselves available after class for brief questions. All of them will have office hours; take advantage of this.
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