Commitment to Law School

Pre-Law Advice at the College of Charleston

IV. Law School Admissions Process

The Pre-Law Handbook

The single best source for information on "how to apply to law school" can be found in the annual publication of the Association of American Law schools and the Law Services: The Pre-Law Handbook. Copies are available for viewing in Career Services, the Political Science Department, The Center for Student Learning, and other campus locations. You may purchase it directly from Law Services; you may view a copy on line at http://www.lsac.org. In the meantime, you can start your own research on law schools by reading law school bulletins (many are available for viewing through the Pre-Law Society on campus, Career Services, and on line. You can write to law schools directly and ask for copies of current bulletins and application forms. Background information is plentiful. See also works cited in the bibliography.

Thinking About Law School Admissions

The advice given here cannot prepare you to succeed at the College; that is, it cannot teach you how to do well and make great grades. You must prepare yourself. Perhaps the two attributes alluded earlier (sacrifice and maturity) will best help you make grades and prepare you academically for the future.

If you are reading this as a freshman or sophomore, you must: (1) strive for at least a B average in your freshman and sophomore years; (2) try not to think too much about law school until your junior year (if you feel you must think about law school now, refer to the Questionnaire). There is very little you can do to prepare for law school as a freshman or sophomore except to make at least B grades, get courses required for graduation out of the way, and cultivate a strong personal character.

When you are a junior you have two tasks. First, plot a law school application time line. This will organize your activities and focus your attention at the appropriate item at the appropriate time. (See the time line). The time line is self-explanatory. What is explained here can also be found in The Pre-Law Handbook and in the Law Services Information Book (published yearly and available from, among others, Professors Mann and Moore [Political Science], Professor Arsenault [Accounting/Legal Studies], the Career Services Office, and the Center for Student Learning). Second, plan on preparing to take the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) with Mr. Steve Gibson in the Center for Student Learning.

The Law School Admissions Test

The Pre-Law Handbook and the Law Services Information Book have answers to most questions you might have about the procedures for applying to law school and taking the LSAT. There is room for some unsolicited advice about that test.

1. The LSAT is like no test you have ever had before. It is a highly abstract test of your thinking skills based on reading comprehension, analytical abilities, and logical reasoning. The test also includes an ungraded writing sample section. Do not be lulled into complacency about the importance of this test. Although it may not seem logical to give greater consideration to applicants' four-hour performance on a test than their four year performance as undergraduates, some admissions committees weigh applicants' LSAT scores more heavily than their GPRs.

A good SAT score does not guarantee that you will score well on the LSAT. Preparing for the LSAT is now the norm. If you don't prepare, you're putting yourself at a serious disadvantage. You are now in a select group of undergraduates--people who have done well enough in college to think they have a shot at law school. Unlike the SAT situation, you will be competing against some of the best college students for law school admission.

2. Which LSAT test date to choose depends on which schools you are considering (see "The Law School Locator Index", for some guideline threshold numbers for law schools). Some national and regional schools prefer an early application pool, so the June test at the end of your junior year or the early fall tests of your senior year are best. For most students considering most schools, the October or the December test date (at the end of your first semester of your senior year) may be best.

3. Students often ask if they should take the LSAT more than once. Under current Law Services rules, all your LSAT scores recorded during a five year period will be forwarded to the schools you list, unless you expressly request your test not to be scored or sent to any schools (cr. Law Services Information Book). Do not take the LSAT for practice. Your score will count. The law school admissions committees, therefore, will have a report of all your LSAT results. This may be good news or bad news. If you have taken the test more than once and if you improve noticeably, the admissions committee will observe that; good news. If you do not improve your score, or worse yet, if your score drops, the admissions committee will observe that as well; bad news. That is why we strongly recommend that you prepare for the test using the services of the Center for Student Learning and Mr. Gibson. If you wish, you may take an off-campus course in test preparation--no doubt you have seen flyers on campus advertising private companies which specialize in advanced test preparation. Feel free to do so. It is our experience, however, that Mr. Gibson's preparation is at least as good. If you are a full-time student, there is no charge for working with him at the Center for Student Learning. Near the end of that test preparation, you should take at least one full-length practice test, all X hours and minutes, under simulated test conditions. You must take LSAT preparation seriously--as seriously as you would take any course at the College. If you have a good GPR, a good LSAT score can get you into the automatic acceptance category. If grades are so-so, you must do extremely well on the LSAT to have a chance at admission.

Other Application Hints

4. Work on your application materials. Although no two schools use the exact same application form, many require a writing sample. Do not ask (or pay) someone to do your writing sample. The LSAT includes a writing sample section, and careful admissions committees may compare the application's writing sample with the LSAT sample. For information on the preparation of a writing sample or personal statement, see the relevant link.

5. Law schools require a College transcript. Your grades and coursework taken will be available admissions committees to review. Most admissions committees first look at two items: your grade point ratio and your LSAT score. If your combined scores cross an admission threshold, you will be admitted automatically. Admissions deans indicate that maybe 40% of applicants are automatic admits. Assume that you will not fall into that category. Consider yourself to be a "gray area" applicant and concentrate on creating the best application "package" you can.

6. Assuming that you are a "gray area" applicant, you need to consider a range of factors which may become important in an admission committee's decision: did you work part-time of full-time while going to college?; were you involved in extra-curricular or community activities?; what types of elective courses did you choose? (see above section on coursework); are there any factors which explain in some way your LSAT score or GPR which you wish the admissions committee to take into account?; is there a personal characteristic or a part of your life's history that would separate you from most other applicants (e.g., have you climbed Mt. Everest, cooked Peking Duck for fifty people; do you play the oboe)? There is room on your application to list these items as well as others, such as awards and scholarships, which might help your chances for admission.

7. If the law application requests letters of recommendation, immediately ask your professors and/or employers--people who know you and your abilities--to write on your behalf. Law school deans will tell you that letters from politicians and alumni who don't really know you are irrelevant and cannot contribute meaningfully to your file. Some schools ask you to limit yourself to two or three letters; however, even if the school doesn't restrict you, it is better to have a few strong letters than many shallow ones. Anticipate some delay in time in which to write. Pushing a deadline is not a character trait looked upon with favor by professors, bosses, or law admissions committees.

8. Some admissions deans believe that continuous contact with the law admissions office is advisable; others do not. However, there is a difference between demonstrating active interest in the law school and making a pest of yourself. Know where to draw that line. Some schools have a formal policy about interviews. Unless the school has stated a policy, you should not request an interview with admissions officials unless you think you are in the "gray area." Although some admissions deans have said that a positive interview can help such applicants, a negative interview obviously does not. If you decide to go for an interview, it would be wise to practice interviewing. See Career Services for assistance.

9. Apply to more than one law school. (see "The Law School Locator Index"). Test the waters. There are several classifications of law schools. Those with national reputations are the most prominent and highly competitive. These include Harvard, Yale, Chicago, Stanford, Columbia, Michigan, Virginia, and Berkeley. Some regional law schools have very good reputations that are very good--second only to the national schools. In the South, these include Duke, Emory, Georgetown, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Tulane, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest. State law schools may or may not have regional reputations; in South Carolina, you have two choices--The University of South Carolina in Columbia and Charleston School of Law. Some students may search for the best law school they can find if the first three categories are unrealistic alternatives. The AALS accredited law schools have basic descriptions in the Pre-Law Handbook, including information on: financial aid, location of the law school, acceptance levels for GPR and LSAT, relevant facts about the student population, library size, special programs, accreditation status, and tuition and fees. You may wish to key on second and third year specialties offered at a particular law school, but you will be ahead of yourself to be concerned with those now.

Since 1994, College of Charleston students have been accepted for admission to, among others, the following law schools: University of Akron, University of Alabama, Albany Law School, American University, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, University of Baltimore, Boston University, Brooklyn Law School, University of California, Davis, California Western School of Law, Campbell University, Cardozo School of Law, Case Western Reserve University, Catholic University of America, Charleston School of Law, Chase Law School, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Cleveland State-Marshall College of Law, University of Colorado, University of Connecticut, CUNY at Queens College, University of Dayton, University of Denver, De Paul University, Detroit College of Law, Dickinson School of Law, Drake University, Duke University, Emory University, University of Florida, Florida Coastal School of Law, Florida State University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, University of Georgia, Georgia State University, Golden Gate University, Gonzaga University, Harvard University, Hastings College of Law, Hofstra University, University of Houston, Indiana University-Indianapolis, John Marshall Law School, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, Lewis and Clark University, Louisiana State University, University of Louisville, Loyola University-Chicago, Loyola University-New Orleans, University of Maine, University of Maryland, McGeorge School of Law, University of Memphis, Mercer University, University of Miami, Mississippi College School of Law, University of Mississippi, University of Missouri-Kansas City, New England School of Law, University of New Mexico, New York Law School, University of North Carolina, Northeastern University, University of Notre Dame, Nova Southeastern, Ohio Northern University, Oklahoma City University, Pace University, Pepperdine School of Law, Regent University, University of Richmond, Saint John’s Law School, Saint Louis University, Saint Mary’s University-Texas, Saint Thomas University, Samford University , University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, Seton Hall University, University of South Carolina, South Texas School of Law, Southern Illinois University, Southern Methodist University, Stetson University, Suffolk University, Temple University, University of Tennessee, Texas Southern University, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Thomas M. Cooley, Touro College School of Law, Tulane University, University of Tulsa, Valparaiso University, Vanderbilt University, Vermont Law School, University of Virginia, Wake Forest University, Washington and Lee University, Washington University-Missouri, Western New England College, Whittier College School of Law, Widener University, College of William and Mary, William Mitchell College of Law, University of Wyoming, and Yale Law School.

There is one more piece of advice about law school selection. If you wish to practice law in your home state, but you select a school outside of your home state, you will no doubt be required to pass your home state's bar exam. Some state bar associations have reciprocal agreements; others do not.

10. Pay attention to deadlines. Each school has its own system, but whatever the system, apply early. This is an important area and you need to be organized so that you do not miss any deadlines.

11. Try to attend the annual Law School Forum, typically held in Atlanta, 2006 in November. This forum is free. Information as to when and where may be found from the usual sources and on line at http://www.lsac.org. Visit law schools. Attend at least one school's Law Day (almost all law schools have one--find out when it is and go). Pay attention to e-mail on campus about guest speakers sponsored by the Pre-Law Society. Many law admissions deans pay annual visits to the College of Charleston. Some law schools send representatives to Career Service's Graduate and Professional Career Fair, held each fall. These and other events are posted under special events at the pre-law home page.

12. Talk with your adviser about alternatives. If you are denied admission, talk with your adviser about how to strengthen your application for the next year.

13. If you are accepted for admission, the application process is not over. You still have to graduate. You will have to submit your final transcript. You have to submit (in some cases) one or more reservation fees and deposits, usually (but not always) credited to your first year's tuition. In other words, you still must pay attention to your deadlines. Add these items to your application time line as you become aware of them.

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