Everything You Need To Know
About Applying To Law School
PRE-LAW ADVISING OFFICE
OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE
EDUCATION
Things to Think About:
 Why do you want to go to Law School?
 (pros and cons)
 Do you truly understand what it means to be a
lawyer and go to law school?

(Have you talked to lawyers? Had any experience in a law
firm?)
 Have you thought about taking time off between
Tufts and Law School?

Some schools appreciate that you have taken time off
(Northwestern, Harvard)
Application Process
 LSAT
 Transcripts
 Letters of Recommendation
 Personal Statement/Diversity Statement
 Resume
Application Process Timeline
 Early September Applications Open
 September-Thanksgiving: Work on
Applications and Submit
 December-April: Wait on decisions
Where to
Start:
First Step
Visit LSAC.org and
create an account
More than 200 law
schools in the US and
Canada use this online
system to administer
the law school
application process
Also provides resources
such as law school
locators, FAQ’s and
additional resources for
the application process
Credential Assembly Service
 Central Application Service for applying to Law
Schools
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Can sign up through the LSAC.org website
Sign up at any point prior to applying
Will assemble your letters of recommendation, transcripts and
LSAT scores to be sent to individual schools
You can check online to be sure that all of your items have
been received
Cost: $160
What is the LSAT?
 Necessary to apply to an ABA-approved law school.
 The LSAT is an admissions test, not an aptitude test,
unlike the SAT’s.
 It is designed to test your logical reasoning abilities
under timed conditions.
 LSAT’s predict first-year grades and the ability to
pass the bar exam.
 LSAT is a learnable test.
When to take the LSAT
 Offered four times a year: June, October, December & February
 If applying next year, should think about taking the June or
October test date
 Why can’t I take the December test?
o
o
o
Puts you late in the admissions cycle
Significantly hurts chances for admission
Hurts chances for merit-based aid
 Visit LSAC.org to register
 It takes about three weeks to receive your score
 Can I take the test more than once?

o
Not advised.
Law schools will either average your scores or use the highest score,
but they will see ALL of your scores.
How to Study for the LSAT
Study, Study, Study
 12-15 FULL, TIMED, LSAT practice exams are
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necessary to perform your very best.
Blocks of questions alone will not improve an LSAT
score.
You CAN improve your score with practice.
There are Commercial prep programs. It depends on
your study skills, but can do just as well on your own.
Free LSAT practice exams are available through the
Pre-Law website and LSAC.org.
Letters of Recommendation
• Secure 2 academic recommendations (Prof, TA,
Advisor)
•
•
Pick a professor that knows you very well and you think is
going to write you a good letter of recommendation.
Don’t ask someone just because they are well known (judge,
DA, etc.)
Personal Statements
 Should be two pages, double spaced in an easy to read font
 Must directly, clearly answer the question that is asked by
each school
 Think about the following:
 Why do I want to be a lawyer?
 Why do I want a legal education?
 How will a legal education help me fulfill my goals?
 What experiences make you feel ready for the ethical,
professional and moral responsibilities of a career in law?
How Many Schools Should I Apply to?
 For risk-takers: 5-7 schools.
 For more security in the process: 8-12 schools
• 2-4 “reach” schools
• 3-5 schools with a good probability of
acceptance
• 2-4 safety, or “money” schools
The Search Process: How to Select Schools
 70% of the admissions process is your GPA and
LSAT score

However, your personal statement and letters of
recommendation do matter
 Use the UGPA and LSAT Score Search from the
LSAC website:
https://officialguide.lsac.org/Release/UGPALSAT/U
GPALSAT.aspx
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If you don’t have your LSAT score, use your latest practice test
This will give you a sense of your likelihood of being accepted
to a particular school
Factors To Think About:
 Where you will be happy for three years, location of the
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school: urban, suburban, college town
Cost: tuition, room & board, likelihood of grant or
scholarship
Programs offered: Clinics & Externships
Student body: competiveness, community feeling,
diversity
Career opportunities through the placement office
Facilities: housing, classroom, library, technology
Take tours of different law schools you are interested in
to get a feel of the school
When Should I Apply?
 You should aim to have all of your applications
submitted by Thanksgiving.
 Law school is on a rolling admission so the earlier
you submit your application, the earlier the
admissions officers will read your application
What should I expect?
When should I expect…?
 It all depends on the applicant profile…something
you can’t know.
 Don’t be upset if you don’t hear anything by early
March.
Summing Up The Application Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Register for the LSAT and CAS
Practice, practice, practice for the LSAT
Arrange letters of recommendation
Get recommendations and transcripts to CAS
Work on personal statement/diversity statement
Research law schools in your GPA/LSAT range
Apply!
How to stay connected with Pre-Law Advising
 Register for the Pre-Law Newsletter through
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Webcenter
Register for Applicant Emails
Attend Law School Panels and Events
Stay in touch with the pre-law advisor as I offer
advising to alumni
Visit the pre-law website: http://uss.tufts.edu/prelaw/
Questions??