A. About the Application Process for Law School

Law schools look for students who can write well and think in an analytical and critical way. Because of this, you do not have to major in a specific subject in college or focus on pre-law courses. But, you should generally focus on courses that include critical analysis, logical reasoning, and written and oral expression. In addition, the more challenging your education experience in college, the more likely it is that you will be prepared for the challenging world of law school.

As with preparing for college, one of the most important factors for admission to law school is your grades. So, focus on your course work from day one of college and understand that the better your grades are the more likely it is that you will be admitted to a good law school.

You will also have to take a standardized test as part of the application process. This test, known as the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) is required by all ABA-Approved Law Schools. The LSAT helps law schools make admission decisions by providing a standard measure of acquired reading and verbal reasoning skills that law schools can use as one of several factors in assessing candidates. Information about the LSAT can be obtained at www.lsac.org.

B. Selecting a Law School

As with selecting a college, you should start the process of choosing a law school by preparing a list of what you want in a law school. Important factors to consider include:

• The location, size and community of the law school;
• The size, composition, diversity and background of the student body;
• The strengths, weaknesses and reputation of the law school and its faculty;
• The amount of clinical (teaching by doing) or classroom learning;
• The types of student organizations existing at the law school;
• The resources available to students;
• The cost of tuition and room and board;
• Whether or not the school allows students to work part-time and whether or not they have a part-time program;

These are just a few of the many factors that you will need to consider before choosing a law school.

One of the best resources to start investigating law schools is the Law School Admission Council's website at www.lsac.org. In addition, you should review the websites of every law school that you are interested in attending. You can also contact the law schools for their bulletins, catalogs and their application material. After you take the LSAT, which usually occurs before you apply to law schools, you will generally receive information from law schools that are interested in you.

You may also want to talk to a pre-law advisor at your college. These individuals will generally know more about or have access to information relating to applying for law school. You may be able to obtain additional information or assistance from a local bar association. If you know an attorney, he or she may be able to provide you with even more information about law schools.

Once you have narrowed down the list of law schools you are interested in, you will likely want to visit the law schools. You can learn a lot about a law school by visiting its facilities, observing one of its classes, and talking with students and faculty members. The law school may also have associations for racial and ethnic minorities and the members of these groups may be willing to share important information about the law school with you.

Useful resources on the LSAC's website for investigating law schools include:
ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools TM
LSAT® & LSDAS Information Book
The 10 Questions for Minority Law School Applicants

Useful videos available from the LSAC website include:
Getting There: Four Paths to Law School
Financing a Legal Education: Investing in Your Future
Journeys: Minorities and the Law School Experience

Preparing for College
Choosing a College
Paying for College and Law School
About Law School
Obtaining a License to Practice Law
Who Can Help You