Make an application budget. Applying to law school can be expensive, especially if you have not received fee waivers through the Law School Admissions Council based on your income. Law school applications can range from $50 to $100 in addition to a $12 application fee LSAC charges to submit the application. As such, you can pay more than $300 to apply to just three schools. Because of this, creating a budget for yourself and planning ahead will help you to apply to all the schools you want.
Create a list of schools you are interested in. While most people dream of attending an elite school, usually ranked within the top 14 or 25 law schools, only applying to these schools may be detrimental to your application cycle. Create a "dream school" list in addition to a list of schools where you have a good chance of being accepted. Applying to lower ranked schools may be beneficial later, as they may award you substantial scholarships.
Use a website such as Top Law Schools or Law School Numbers to compare rankings, median LSAT scores, and GPAs at each school easily. Lastly, make note of which schools have the legal programs you are most interested in. This will help you narrow down the number of schools you are interested in.
Register for the Credential Assembly Service through the Law School Admissions Council website. This service will assemble your LSAT scores and transcripts into a single report. All law schools require that you utilize this service. Additionally, the Credential Assembly Service also sends any letters of recommendation to as many law schools as you apply to.
Request letters of recommendation from two to four professors, employers, or other officials who can attest to your work. Asking for letters of recommendation even before you take the LSAT will give you an edge in the application process by ensuring that law schools receive the letters as soon as possible.
Ask for letters from individuals with whom you have a strong working relationship with, as it is important that they give a detailed and positive account of your work ethic, personality and strengths. If you have any weaknesses in your application, such as a lower GPA or LSAT score, choose people who can attest to your intelligence and dedication. If possible, choose someone who has attended the law school of your choice and can address why you will be the best fit for that particular school. Additionally, provide a draft of a letter or a bulleted list of points you would like each person to make in their letter for you.
Draft your personal statement. The personal statement is one of the most important parts of your law school application, as it gives law schools an idea of who you are outside of just your grades and extracurricular activities. Your personal statement should attest to your personal interests, as well as your future goals. Topics like travel experience, or life-changing moments make for good personal statements.
Always demonstrate why you would make a good candidate for law school and why you are a good fit for a particular school. As such, research each school you apply to and note any special academic programs, clinical opportunities, or even locational value you find in a school in your personal statement. Avoid re-stating information that is elsewhere in your application, like the responsibilities you held as president of your organization.
Compose your resume. Include every job, extracurricular activity, volunteer work, internship and even travel experience you have had since graduating high school. Unless a school provides limits, your resume can be as long as three or four pages. Providing law schools with as much information as you can about yourself will help them to make the best determination of whether or not to admit you to their school.
Submit all required information through the Law School Admissions Council Website. Once you have completed your personal statement, resume and letters of recommendation, you can fill out each school's application form and submit all of your documents electronically. To do so, simply select the school you are applying to and enter the requested information on the form. Application forms usually request information including your name, date of birth, employment history and race. Page length may vary from one to 24 pages, depending on the school. Upload your resume, personal statement and other supporting documents to submit the application to each school.
Schedule interviews. Some schools, such as Northwestern University and Vanderbilt offer interviews to each of their applicants. While this may not be a mandatory option, it will enable you to demonstrate your dedication to attending a particular school and showcase your intelligence and personality.