Prepare a Strong Application
Between preparing for the LSAT, asking professors for recommendation letters and simply finding a best fit, applying to law school is a challenging process. That’s why experts say to start early and devote a significant amount of time and effort to the process.
Here are 10 tips to craft an application that will impress admissions officers.
1. Discuss your career goals.
Cameron Dare Clark, who is African-American and from a low-income family, told U.S. News that his emphasis on his dream of becoming a civil rights attorney likely strengthened his application.
“The most effective way to create a clear and coherent application is to start with the vision and work backwards,” the then-second-year Harvard Law School student said in an email.
2. Demonstrate strong writing skills.
Experts say strong writing skills are a key to success in law school. And, emphasizing writing-related work experience on a resume might impress admissions officers, Anthony Ervin, the North Carolina Central University School of Law director of admissions, told U.S. News.
Applicants should also remove any fluff and jargon from an application and keep job descriptions and essays concise, using strong verbs and colorful wording, experts suggest.
3. Share experiences that shaped your character.
Ervin told U.S. News that applicants should communicate their personal drive in their admissions materials, and any anecdote they include should help explain why they want to enter the field.
“Our criteria is we’re looking for passion, work ethic and commitment,” Ervin says.
4. Include a specific thesis in essays.
A thesis is “the key concept or idea that your essay will set out to explore,” Michelle Kim Hall, a senior law school admissions counselor at Stratus Admissions Counseling, wrote in a U.S. News blog post. Centering essays around one differentiates them from diary entries and resumes, and keeps them focused.
“The ability to write about a complicated idea in an organized way is a valuable skill for any attorney,” she wrote.
5. Make sure recommendations are positive.
“Have the confidence to ask the professor whether they will give you a good recommendation,” Kim O’Brien, then director of admission at Concordia University School of Law, said to U.S. News.
One expert also told U.S. News that applicants should meet with the recommendation letter writer beforehand for 30 minutes to ensure the writer is aware of the candidate’s strengths.
6. Find recommenders who know you well.
Experts suggest seeking out letters of recommendation from faculty who know the applicant well and can offer detailed insight into the applicant’s strongest qualities.
“What matters is the substance of the letter,” says O’Brien. “The ones that really made a difference were the ones that were specific and gave examples to support their opinion of the applicant.”
7. Don’t apply too late.
At many law schools, rolling admissions is commonplace, and applications can often be submitted through June, depending on the school. Applicants should consider applying earlier than later because the admissions process may become more competitive if they wait, experts say.
Shawn P. O’Connor, founder and then-president of the former Stratus Prep, recommended applying by November in a U.S. News blog post. Those who need more time to strengthen an application or plan to take the December LSAT might wait until the end of the year.
8. Prepare for the interview.
After you apply, a law school may invite you to interview — a chance to show your personality, O’Connor wrote in another U.S. News blog post. These can be in person or virtual, in either individual or group settings; regardless, preparation is key.
O’Connor suggests brainstorming responses beforehand but not seeming scripted, being genuine and specific, and offering new information that’s not already on your application.
9. Differentiate yourself on your resume.
Mike Spivey, founding partner of the Spivey Consulting Group, which specializes in helping law school applicants, told U.S. News that a resume should illustrate to admissions officers who you are as a person and what sets you apart, telling your story in a unique way.
“One hundred percent of admissions is differentiation,” Spivey says.
10. Prove you’re ready for law school.
Law school resumes should indicate that an applicant is committed to public service, has strong communication skills and is familiar with the legal profession, ideally with related work experience, Ervin says.
He says the goal of the resume is to show you’ll thrive in law school if admitted. But O’Connor also wrote in a U.S. News blog post that applicants shouldn’t include only law-related activities and try to paint a comprehensive picture of who they are.
More About Applying to Law School
Learn more about applying to law school on the U.S. News website, and find additional advice on our Law Admissions Lowdown blog.
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10 Tips to Build a Strong Law School Application originally appeared on usnews.com
