Be a Successful Minority Applicant
There’s been a slight uptick in the percentage of minorities at law firms — from 13.36 percent in 2013 to 13.83 percent in 2014 — according to a February report from the National Association for Law Placement, a group for legal professionals.
But getting into law school, the first step toward a career at a law firm, is still a challenge for many minorities, experts say. Law admissions experts share their advice for applicants of color.
Identify as a Minority
Some minority applicants don’t check the box for their race in applications, fearing that they’ll get special treatment because of it. This is a huge mistake, says Peg Cheng, who helps candidates sharpen their applications through her company, Prelaw Guru.
“Law schools are looking for a diverse class,” she says. Omitting this information can make it harder for an admissions officer to ensure that an incoming class includes people from various backgrounds.
Applicants who downplay their minority status may also eliminate their chances of getting a scholarship for minorities, Cheng says.
Write a Diversity Statement
When filling out an application, checking the box next to the race you identify with is not enough, says Cheng. This check mark can be overlooked, and some schools may not be allowed to factor race into the admissions decision. But minority applicants can discuss their heritage and how it’s influenced their choice to go to law school in a compelling diversity statement, Cheng says.
Although this essay is typically optional, she says minority applicants should always complete it.
Focus on the LSAT
“A brown student with a high LSAT is like gold to law schools,” says Cheng. Law school experts usually advise all applicants to do their best on the LSAT, the admissions exam used by most schools. Achieving a high score, however, can be especially advantageous for minority students.
A top score may help them stand out from other applicants. “So few people of color have that,” she says. A strong LSAT score also opens the door for scholarships, Cheng says.
Lead a Student Group
Most undergraduate institutions have a prelaw organization that helps prospective law students learn more about the application process, says Lynda Cevallos, director of prelaw educational activities for the Council on Legal Education Opportunity, which helps minority applicants get into law school.
Cevallos says it’s great if prelaw students join this student group, but they should also join any organization that shares their interests and then try to become a leader. As the head of the group, a student learns how to speak confidently in front of a large audience — a skill students have to use often in law school, she says. “I find that a lot of students of color don’t have that,” Cevallos says.
Talk to Advisers
While advisers are there to guide all college students through school, not everyone goes to them — especially minorities. “A lot of them don’t do it,” says Cevallos, who graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law.
Students of color who are also low income may spend time outside of class tending to other obligations, such as working. Cevallos encourages them to make time for advisers, who can help them with the law school application process.
Visit DiscoverLaw.org
The website for the Law School Admission Council is a popular destination for applicants because it has information on everything from where to apply to taking the LSAT. But LSAC also has a site for minority applicants — DiscoverLaw.org — that Cevallos encourages prelaw students to visit.
The site provides tips for becoming a competitive applicant and tells students about events where they can learn more about diversity within the legal profession.
Consider Prelaw Programs
Cevallos encourages minority applicants to attend the Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars Program to further their preparation for law school.
This program is sponsored by DiscoverLaw.org and helps students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds learn about how to get accepted into law school and what skills they’ll need to do well as a J.D. candidate. It usually lasts four weeks and takes place at various law schools.
If applicants aren’t able to do this program, they may be able to attend one elsewhere, Cevallos says. A number of law schools offer similar programs for students, she says.
Visit Schools
If minority applicants are unsure if schools they like value diversity, Cheng from Prelaw Guru says go find out in person. During a school visit, applicants should talk to current students and faculty about the environment and pay attention to how people on campus treat them.
Aspiring law students should not just rely on the number of minority students at a school to gauge if the school embraces diversity, experts say. Stats can be misleading if, for example, there’s a high percentage of minority students in a first-year class but a much lower percentage in a third-year class, says Cevallos from the Council on Legal Education Opportunity.
Examine the Curriculum
The classes and extracurricular activities offered by a school can also speak to its commitment to diversity, experts say. Some schools offer Indian law classes or clinics that serve minority groups. Applicants can consider a school’s curriculum when gauging how much it values diversity, experts say.
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9 Tips for Applying to Law School as a Minority Applicant originally appeared on usnews.com
