When Law School Applications Open

Applying to law school can be a tedious and time-consuming process that demands considerable work and preparation. This process includes taking the LSAT, gathering letters of recommendation and writing personal statements as well as interviewing potential programs with competing offers of admission and financial aid.

Idealy, the application process begins in fall of your junior year and continues until spring of your desired enrolment year. This article will outline timelines and milestones associated with this two-year process.

Fall

As law schools begin reading applications in fall, it’s always advisable to submit early. This is especially true in competitive admissions cycles.

At this stage, it’s crucial that you finalize your list of target law schools, learn their application requirements and add important due dates to your calendar. Also take this time frame as an opportunity to register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS), wherein for a fee they will package up your LSAT score, transcript(s), and letters of recommendation and send them directly to each law school with which you apply.

Now is also an opportune time to seek advice from an LSAT tutor or certified mentor, while building your support network. Once these steps have been taken, you can rest easy knowing that you’ll be prepared for fall application season – the last thing left is submitting applications!

Winter

As the fall application season comes to a close, you should finalize your school list and begin gathering materials for law school applications. If you haven’t done so already, register with LSAC’s Credential Assembly Service (CAS). CAS is a legal-specific service which compiles LSAT scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation and any other materials into one official report that is then distributed directly to all schools that you apply to.

Spring semester is also an ideal opportunity to boost academic performance, secure strong recommendations letters, and plan activities that will highlight on your resume. And for those who have previously applied but received competing offers, deferring acceptance could be worth exploring; most ABA-accredited schools provide deferral programs; however reapplying may mean overhauling all aspects of your application: revamping essay, updating resume and soliciting new letters of recommendation plus taking the LSAT again.

Spring

As spring arrives, you should start seeking letters of recommendation and finalizing your school list. Now is also an ideal time to take the LSAT if necessary.

Applying to law school can be an arduous journey with multiple steps and deadlines. It is wise to create and adhere to an application timeline as closely as possible to ensure you have enough time to fulfill all admissions requirements, prepare for the LSAT, and craft an impressive personal statement that truly represents you and your candidacy.

Note that law schools generally utilize a rolling admissions process and that applying later could reduce your odds of acceptance. But don’t wait too long; if admitted and offered scholarships but still considering other options, negotiating higher offers could help increase them – the average time frame for receiving acceptance decisions can range between December and April.

Summer

Start narrowing down your list of potential law schools using your law school database, guides, and Google. Visit some schools – especially those near where you plan to live or visit in general – that meet your criteria; attend admissions forums hosted by undergraduate institutions, LSAC or pre-law organizations, as well as law school admissions fairs hosted by these. Also work on your personal statement or application essays at this stage – now is an excellent time for rigorous edits with fresh eyes as well as seeking feedback from trusted others.

Begin contacting people to obtain letters of recommendation as soon as possible, since some schools admit students on an ongoing basis and spots may already be filled by February 28.