Prelaw Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  When should I apply to law School?
A:  Schools begin accepting applications as early as September 1st.  Some schools have early admittance policies, allowing students to receive an admissions decision as early as December.  Typically, schools must receive applications by November to be considered for early admissions decisions.  Check with each schools admissions office for specific deadlines.  Other schools operate on a rolling admissions basis, so it is a good idea to submit your applications by the end of December though deadlines may not be until February or March.

Q:  When should I take the LSAT?
A:  The LSAT is administered four times per year—February, June, October, and December.  It is advantageous to take the June or October LSAT prior to submitting your application.  This will allow you to receive your LSAT score in time to better evaluate your competitiveness for specific programs prior to applying, while providing you with enough time to submit your applications early.  Taking the LSAT in December can require more guess work in the application process that may or may not hurt your options.  It is also important to check with each school to which you will apply to make sure that they accept February LSAT scores taken at the end of the application cycle.  Careful planning will help you avoid last minute application problems.

Q:  Should I take an LSAT prep course?
A:  It is not necessary to take an exam prep course.  Many students prefer prep courses because the courses provide a rigid structure, study materials, and access to instructors.  If you would like to take a course, find one that explains strategies in a way that makes sense to you.  Price alone should not be used as a measure of the quality of a course. Keep in mind that prep courses will not teach you anything that you cannot learn on your own with a lot of discipline.  However, the heavy price paid for a course can help motivate students to make the most of their preparation.  Whichever method you choose, the LSAT is a rigorous test that typically requires 4-6 months of preparation.  The more familiar you are with the test and the types of questions asked, the better you will perform.  Careful preparation can significantly improve your chances of getting into the schools that interest you.

Q:  I withdrew from a class and have a “W” on my transcript.  Is that bad?
A:  No.  One or two W’s will not affect your application.  If you withdrew from all of your classes during a semester, law schools will want to know why.  Excessive W’s can be an indicator of class shopping, poor judgment in selecting classes, or avoiding challenging classes.  If you have many W’s, you will probably want to explain them.

Q:  Are undergraduate pass/fail classes ok to take?
A:  It is acceptable to take some pass/fail classes.  However, too many pass/fail classes may raise questions about a student’s academic abilities/tendencies.  It is also important to consider the impact pass/fail classes have on your grades.  This grading method does not calculate into the GPA.  If you need to raise your GPA, you may want to avoid pass/fail courses.

Q:  If I retake a class, how will my new grade affect my LSAC academic summary?
A:  Because some schools do not allow their students to replace poor grades by retaking a class, LSAC will consider all grades on a transcript (even old grades from repeated classes) in order to compensate for the differences between schools’ grading policies.  As a result, you may be better off taking another class that interests you and in which you are likely to get a good grade than it would be to retake a difficult class with the risk of performing poorly again.

Q:  What undergraduate major is best for getting into law school?
A:  In preparing for law school, choose a major that interests you.  Law schools do not care what you major in as long as it has rigorous coursework.  You are more likely to get good grades in a major that you enjoy than in a major that you think will look better for law school.  If your major does not require classes that involve analytical reading and writing, then you may want to take some reading/writing classes as electives.  These classes will not necessarily improve your standing as an applicant, but they will help you to better adapt to the rigors of a legal education by refining your analytical reasoning and writing skills.

Q:  How important are extracurricular activities?
A:  Involvement in activities may or may not impact a committee’s decision.  Extracurricular activities are helpful because they demonstrate your ability to interact with other people.  Focusing solely on academics does not allow the admissions committees to see your potential for working with and relating to clients.  Involvement in social activities and service are a great way to show your ability to work with others, but should not override academic performance.

Q:  If I have to choose between getting good grades and extracurricular activities, what should I do?
A:  While law schools like to see extracurricular/service activities, grades are more heavily weighted.  If your grades will suffer because of your involvement in activities, you may want to cut back on extracurricular activities for that semester and take on a more balanced and manageable load in future semesters.  Taking on too much may lead admissions committees to conclude that you do not exercise good judgment.  It is much easier to overcome a deficiency in extracurricular activities during a semester than it is to overcome bad grades.

Q:  Is it true that law schools only look at GPA and LSAT scores?
A:  No.  However, GPA and LSAT scores are extremely important because they are the two factors that allow for comparison between all applicants.  Schools will look at your entire application, but the reality is that the better your grades and LSAT score, the more likely you are to be accepted.  Despite the emphasis on grades and LSAT scores, other factors like the personal statement, resumes, and activities can play a decisive role in the application process, especially when comparing two similar applicants’ experiences.

Q:  Are there any prerequisites for law school?
A:  For the most part, no.  Schools do not require specific courses or majors as prerequisites to law school.  However, courses that include substantial reading and writing requirements will better prepare you for a legal education.  There is an exception.  For students interested in becoming a patent prosecution attorney, they must demonstrate that they have a scientific/ engineering background sufficient to practice in this field.  This background experience can be established by acquiring specific science/engineering degrees or by taking a certain number of science courses from certain fields.  This requirement must be met prior to taking the patent bar exam, which may be taken before, during, or after law school, though they may apply and be admitted to law school without the science background.

Q:  Should I go to the best school that I can get into?
A:  Not necessarily.  Choosing a law school depends on many factors that frequently include employment prospects, location, debt load, distance from family, school reputation, faculty-student ratios, and clinical opportunities to name a few.  Some of the advantages of attending a top law school include access to top law firm positions, prestigious clerkships, and academia paths.  Because these schools often have expensive tuition that can exceed $35,000 per year, an alumni’s debt load may actually prevent him or her from taking a lower paying position that may be more enjoyable and rewarding in non-financial ways.  At the other end of the spectrum, taking a scholarship to attend a local school can significantly reduce your debt, but may also limit your employment opportunities to regions close to the school.  Each applicant should carefully consider how much debt he or she will accrue during law school and create a plan for paying off their educational debts prior to committing themselves to a specific program, while considering the implications their school choice will have on job prospects.

Q:  Will a double major improve my chances for admissions?
A:  No.  Double majors can provide a broader background, but are not likely to impact an applicant’s competitiveness in a significant way.

Q:  Should I go to law school right after I graduate?
A:  Some students prefer to enter law school right away, while others take some time off for work or other opportunities.  Taking time off will not hurt your chances for getting into law school.  In fact, quality time spent in the workforce can actually help your application as well as your employment offers after law school.  If you are trying to decide between two career paths, it may be worthwhile to explore another career prior to committing to law school.  This will give you practical experience as well as provide you with more confidence in your decision to attend law school.

Q:  I did not get into a school that I want, should I attend another school and transfer?
A:  Not all schools accept transfers and those that do take into consideration factors such as your first year law school grades as well as the number of students that dropped out of their program.  It can be very difficult to transfer to another school.  Therefore, even if you plan to transfer, you should not enroll in a school that you would not want to graduate from.