Law School Application Timeline
During your junior year, you will want to begin collecting information on the various law schools in the United States and start looking at different regions of the country where you would like to live, and you will need to begin preparing for the LSAT exam. During your senior year, you will start the law school application process. Below are some suggestions on how to best organize your time during this process. Be sure to invest in a daily planner so you can stay organized during the application process. You will need to keep track of schools you have applied and/or plan to apply, materials you have sent to LSAC and independently to individual Law Schools, and application deadlines.
Junior Year
Fall
- Start establishing rapport with faculty. (Just remember, you will need some really strong letters of recommendation from faculty members, and they need to know who you are to write you a good letter.)
- Try to gain some experience in the field; look at internship possibilities.
- Begin researching schools using the Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools (pre-law advisors in Advising Services possess a copy of this and can help you research a particular law school). The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools is also a good source of information.
- Start preparing for the June LSAT. Try taking practice tests from start to finish, and be sure to time yourself. Also, Kaplan offers a free testing event in September, so sign up for this. You can also check out LSAC for a few law school practice test.
Spring
- Register for the June LSAT (if you haven’t begun study, then register for the October LSAT).
- STUDY for the LSAT! Take practice tests from start to finish; be sure to time yourself.
- Begin thinking about professors to ask about recommendations.
- Start working on your resume. Be sure to contact Career Services for assistance with your resume.
Summer
- Take the June LSAT (or register for the October LSAT if you haven’t prepared).
- Think about your personal statement. Brainstorm ideas, and develop your essay from there. See the Personal Statement link on this website for ideas.
- Register for Law School Data Assembly Service.
- Send your transcripts to LSDAS.
- Request registration packets from law schools of interest.
Senior Year
Fall
- Finish writing your personal statement.
- Update your resume.
- Ask faculty for letters of recommendation. Be sure to provide your recommender an updated resume and academic history.
- Complete your LSDAS report.
- Take the October LSAT.
- Ensure your applications have been completed before you mail them.
- In mid to late November, begin sending completed applications to law schools.
- Follow up with law schools to confirm your applications are complete.
- Fill out applications for financial aid.
Spring
- Send an updated transcript including your fall grades to LSDAS.