Where do I begin?? The Law School application process …it’s not that bad. Christina Siders, MA Career Counselor University Career Services
LAW SCHOOL
WEEK
Introductions
Name, major and year in school When did you first become interested in going to law school? What is the most intimidating part of applying to law school?
Agenda
Checklist and time frames LSAC Choosing a school Letters of Recommendation and LSDAS LSAT Questions
The ABC’s of LSAC…
LSAC: Law School Admissions Counsel ◦ http://www.lsac.org/ ◦ Hub for everything law school ◦ Great for exploration and application specifics: Information on legal profession and financial aid Listings of law schools and websites Administers LSAT, holds letters of rec, personal statements, transcripts, and more.
◦ Consists of over 200 law schools as active users ◦ Free to use (fee applies for LSDAS)
So many schools, So many application fees… ◦ How to evaluate your options:
http://lsac.org/Choosing/evaluating-law-schools.asp Reputation does not only consist of rank Take into account some of the following:
Diversity of student body Student to professor ratio Faculty experience Library Student organizations Location Career Services office Bar passage rate
Choosing a School
Assess yourself realistically and apply to a range of schools ◦ The numbers game: profiles and the UGPA search, individual appointments with UCS Career Counselors ◦ http://officialguide.lsac.org/UGPASearch/Search3. = Read, talk, do: read about the universities online, talk to current and past students, attend an information session, and visit the campus. For more information: http://officialguide.lsac.org/
More alphabet soup: LSDAS
LSDAS: Law School Data Assembly service
http://lsac.org/Applying/lsdas-general-information Consolidates info into a report to send to each school Additional $121 to register Required by some schools http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/LawSchoolCodes.pdf
Letters of Recommendation
Step 1: Get to know your professors Step 2: Determine the type you want written (targeted vs. general) Step 3: Contact the professor to ask for a letter Step 4: Identify your recommenders and fill out the form that accompanies your letter ◦ http://lsac.org/Applying/letters-of-recommendation.asp Step 5: Have the professor write the letter and send it along with the form to LSAC (address listed) Step 6: Monitor when your letters are sent to indicated schools – an email will be sent when it’s received
FAQ’s about the letters process
What does the L descriptor mean? ◦ Convenience for the applicant to keep their letters straight. Example of how to use it: "Letter from Prof. John Doe" (one that's going to all schools) or "Letter to Harvard from Prof. Jane Doe“ (a letter from a professor who went to Harvard Law and wrote a personalized letter to them)
Do I have to use the LSDAS for my letters? ◦ No, but some schools do require it. http://www.lsac.org/pdfs/LawSchoolCodes.pdf
How many can I submit? ◦ LSDAS will allow up to 4 general letters, unlimited targeted letters
The Addendum Debate
What are they? ◦ Clear, concise explanations for flaws in your application
When are they most often used? ◦ A GPA that does not reflect your abilities ◦ A long gap in your college attendance ◦ Low LSAT score due to testing difficulties
The dreaded LSAT….
WHEN can I take it? ◦ Test dates: Jan., June, Sept., Dec. ◦ http://lsac.org/LSAT/TheLSAT-menu.asp WHAT does it test? WHERE do I register? ◦ http://lsac.org/LSAT/lsat-registration-methods.asp HOW can I prepare? ◦ Prep materials available at: http://www.lsat.org/pdfs/LSATPreparationweb.pdf
Reading Comprehension Sample *Includes a passage (around 450 words)* Question 1 It can be inferred from the passage that some of the protagonist’s actions in Invisible Man are most likely to have been modeled on the (A) actions of Ishmael in Melville’s Moby-Dick (B) most recurrent situations in Western myth and fiction (C) author’s personal experiences before he wrote the novel (D) actions of those African American literary char-acters who question traditional blues attitudes (E) actions of those African American literary characters who work to establish a single African American identity
Analytical Reasoning Sample A medical clinic has a staff of five doctors—Drs. Albert, Burns, Calogero, Defeo, and Evans. The national medical society sponsors exactly five conferences, which the clinic’s doctors attend, subject to the following constraints: If Dr. Albert attends a conference, then Dr. Defeo does not attend it. If Dr. Burns attends a conference, then either Dr. Calogero or Dr. Defeo, but not both, attends it. If Dr. Calogero attends a conference, then Dr. Evans does not attend it. If Dr. Evans attends a conference, then either Dr. Albert or Dr. Burns, but not both, attends it. Question 1 If Dr. Burns attends one of the conferences, then which one of the following could be a complete and accurate list of the other members of the clinic who also attend that conference? (A) (B) (C) (D) (E)
Drs. Albert and Defeo Drs. Albert and Evans Drs. Calogero and Defeo Dr. Defeo Dr. Evans
Logical Reasoning Sample A study has shown that there are still millions of people who are unaware that they endanger their health by smoking cigarettes. This is so despite government campaigns to warn people of the dangers of smoking. Reluctantly, one has to draw the conclusion that the mandatory warnings that tobacco companies are required to print have had no effect. Which one of the following, if true, would refute the argument in the passage? (A) Many people who continue to smoke are aware of the dangers of smoking. (B) Some people smoke cigarettes for legitimate reasons. (C) Government has had to force companies to warn potential customers of the dangers of their products. (D) Some people who are aware of the dangers of smoking were made aware of them by the mandatory warnings. (E) Smoking is clearly responsible for a substantial proportion of preventable illness in the country.
Upcoming Law School Visits The Insider’s Guide to Law School: University of Pennsylvania School of Law, University of Chicago School of Law & University of Michigan School of Law October 7, 3:00-4:30 pm Norris, Northwestern Room Harvard Law School October 16, 12:00-1:00 pm Norris, Armadillo Room Boston University School of Law October 16, 2:00-3:00 pm Norris, Rock Room
Columbia Law School October 19, 12:00-1:30 pm Norris, Big Ten Georgetown Law School October 19, 3:00-4:00 pm Norris, Arch Room Stanford University School of Law October 28, 9:00-10:00 am Norris, Wildcat Room Yale University School of Law November 18, 4:00-5:00 pm Norris, Lake Room
LAW FORUM:
Saturday, October 17 10:00 AM–5:00 PM Hyatt Regency McCormick Place 2233 S. Martin Luther King Drive ◦ Information available at: http://www.lsac.org/Choosing/law-school-recruitmentforums.asp
PAD is providing a coach bus. Contact Makoa makoakawabata@gmail.com
Questions? Main Office
620 Lincoln Street
847-491-3700 to meet with a Career Counselor CareerLab Core Reserve Main Library, 2nd Floor North
Web www.northwestern.edu/careers Email internship@northwestern.edu Facebook www.facebook.com/northwesternucs **all PowerPoints will be available on our Facebook page this week** Twitter http://twitter.com/northwesternucs LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/groupRegistration?gid=1926036