APPLYING TO LAW SCHOOL/ADMISSION CRITERIA

Law schools weigh the package of academic factors much more heavily than extracurricular or personal characteristics. Non-academic achievements and involvements are still important, but not as important relatively. Law schools are predicting your ability to do a very academic job (reading, writing, and analyzing legal cases and theories). Therefore, an applicant's Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) score and grade-point average (GPA) are more closely considered than other admissions criteria. Many schools combine these two indicators into an index, based on statistics of past students.

·         Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)

Applicants take the LSAT, a three-and-a-half hour standardized test, during one of four test administrations offered annually by the Law School Admission Services (Law Services). Scores, which range from 120 to 180, are used by most law schools as a common measurement of potential for success in law school.

As of Fall 2001, the LSAT consists of five 35-minute sections of multiple choice questions with a total of 100 questions. The sections are:

> one reading comprehension section

> one analytical reasoning section (a.k.a. "games")

> two logical reasoning sections

> a fifth "experimental" section which contains questions for future tests. (You will not be told which section this is).

> a 30-minute writing sample which, though not scored, will be sent to the law schools.

We recommend that you plan to take the LSAT only once. Most law schools average the scores so you will need to improve your scores significantly to make a difference, and of course there is also a chance your score might drop.

LSAT scores are good for five years. However, many law schools prefer scores earned within the past three years, so check the school catalogues to determine each school's policy. The LSAT is regarded by law schools as the single best predictor of first-year performance. Since the LSAT is held in such high regard by law school admissions people, it is wise to prepare thoroughly. Plan at least one month of rigorous study, or three months of two hours a day. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with LSAC's Website; they provide excellent information about the LSAT (check out the Links & Resources section of this web site). Many LSAT takers have taken a review course. Review courses are expensive, but if you do poorly in standardized tests, they may be worth your while. The Office of Career Services has information on test preparation.

If affording the LSAT and registration for the LSDAS will cause financial strain, look into applying for a fee waiver. If you qualify for the LSAT fee waiver, you will automatically receive LSDAS registration for free.

While many candidates do choose to enroll in a prep course such as Princeton Review or Kaplan, the most important preparation is practice. Take an actual LSAT under timed conditions; the more times you do this the better you will do. Most candidates underestimate the amount of preparation they will need to do. Law Services sells official LSAT tests; all other test books & methods, though they can be useful, are not official LSAT preparation materials.

Law Services did a study on the results of various preparation methods, and found that no one method was superior. So, if you think you need the structure of a prep course and can afford the $700-$800 cost, by all means take one. Otherwise: study, study, study.

·         Grade Point Average (GPA)

Applicants submit undergraduate transcripts to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), which converts grades to a cumulative grade point average using a set of consistent values. The GPA offers admissions committees another numerical basis for comparing applicants.

·         Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS) and Transcripts

In order to centralize and standardize objective application information—GPAs and LSAT scores—ABA-approved law schools require applicants to subscribe to the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). The Service organizes and analyzes applicant information in a way that allows law schools to compare academic records from undergraduate schools that use different grading systems.

The registration form in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book is used to register for the LSAT and LSDAS, though it is not necessary to register for them at the same time. The LSDAS subscription continues for one year, so register for the service when you are ready to apply. Once you have submitted the registration form and payment, send or take transcript request forms, available in the Registration and Information Book, to each college or university from which you have earned academic credit. Official transcripts will be sent to the LSDAS for analysis; therefore it is not necessary to send transcripts directly to law schools. Once your LSAT score is available, the LSDAS prepares a law school report which is then requested by law schools upon receipt of your application. The report will include the following:

> a year-by-year grade and credit summary
> photocopies of all your transcripts
> your GPA for each academic year and your cumulative GPA
> a description of your overall grade distribution
> the mean GPA of other students at your undergraduate school who have subscribed to the LSDAS and your percentile graduation rank among those students
> up to 12 LSAT scores, including cancellations and absences
> an average LSAT score, if you have more than one score on file
> copies of your LSAT writing sample
> the mean LSAT score for students from your undergraduate school

The LSDAS report may also include an applicant index described in the previous section. LSAT scores are reported by LSAC for approximately five years following test administrations. Some law schools, however, will require that a score be obtained within a few years prior to applying.

LSDAS (Law School Data Assembly Service), is the component of Law Services that compiles and computes the data from all your transcripts and LSAT scores for the past five years and forwards it to the law schools of your choice. Almost all law schools require these reports. LSDAS will send this information to one school; if you are applying to more than one school, pay for that number of schools when you subscribe, (you do not need to identify the other schools at that point). One very convenient feature of their service includes students' ability to track the status of their material that is being sent from the LSDAS. You simply need to log on through their online services site, which offers the option "LSAC File Status."

Information on the service is explained fully in the LSAT & LSDAS Registration & Information Book. Law Services publishes the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book which answers in detail all your questions about the application process, defines the organizations involved in the process, and includes all your registration forms for the LSAT. This book is the key information book for the LSAT. Pick up your free copy at the OCS. You can also discover detailed information and register on-line through LSAC’s pages.

Many people become confused about when it is necessary to request additional transcripts from study abroad (or other) programs attended off-campus to complete
their file with the LSDAS. Essentially, if your experience is recorded on your Trinity transcript along with a grade, you do not need to get a separate transcript. If your experience is not recorded, or no grade has been awarded, you will need to get a transcript from the school.

According to LSAC, if the study abroad was through his/her home institution, the grades will be calculated from the home school's transcript. If the work was done through another college and transferred into the home institution, he/she would need to list and have a transcript sent from the second school.

·         Application form

In August or September, call or send a postcard to law schools or visit their Web sites to request catalogs and application materials. Addresses and phone numbers of admissions offices are in The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools. (You may find that some schools are unable to respond to your request until October.) Request applications from schools of any possible interest so that you have application materials on hand. This is especially helpful if you are taking the October LSAT and will not know your score until early November; you may need to alter your list of schools if your LSAT score is higher or lower than you expected. You can also apply to any of the ABA-approved law schools using LSACD, a Windows-compatible, interactive multi-media CD-ROM, or LSACD on the Web, which has a fully searchable database and application forms. Information about computerized applications, which can be printed out and/or submitted electronically, is available in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book or online.

Completing application forms is a fairly straightforward process. Schools will be seeking basic information about you, including your academic background, extracurricular activities, and employment history. Many schools will also ask you for the names of your recommenders, the date(s) on which you took (or plan to take) the LSAT, other schools to which you are applying, your intention to apply for financial aid, and any criminal convictions on your record. Naming other schools to which you are applying will not affect your chances of admission, nor will indicating an interest in financial aid. Be truthful and forthright as you complete the applications. It is a good idea to enclose a resume with your application, but do not use it as a substitute for answering questions on the form. If you cannot fit the requested information in the space provided, use separate sheets of paper and label each page clearly.

The biographical data is the easiest part. It is all straightforward, but some things are more important than you might expect. For example, the high school you list can give clues to your socio-economic status, and the city your high school is in (if not a boarding school) helps determine how much geographic diversity you bring to the class.

You are asked to list honors and awards you have received. You should offer some explanation unless you are sure that the designation is self-explanatory. Also describe the community and extracurricular activities that you list.

Follow instructions carefully. If you are asked to list "most recent first", do so. If you are asked to fill in blanks instead of writing "see resume", do it. Not complying with instructions can cost you a lot.

You will be required to answer questions about your conduct on campus (academic and otherwise) and off (criminal convictions and records). You must answer honestly and you should add an explanation of any problems to help the admissions committee rule favorably on your application despite the difficulties you encountered.

·         Recommendations

Most law schools require applicants to submit letters of recommendation from professors or employers to gain a different perspective on the applicant’s academic strength and personal qualities. Admissions officers find most helpful specific examples of the applicant’s motivation and intellectual curiosity, an assessment of communication skills, and a comparison with peers.

Most law schools request that one or two letters of recommendation be submitted on your behalf. If letters are not required, it is still helpful to submit them. Admissions committees will be seeking information not provided elsewhere in your application. Recommendation letters should include concrete examples of your intellectual strength, judgment, motivation, and leadership, along with an appraisal of your communication skills and a comparison to your peers.

Letters written by members of the academic community carry the most weight, since they can address your performance in an academic setting and discuss your potential for success in law school. At least one letter should be from a professor in your undergraduate major, if possible. As you consider whom to ask, remember that it is better to have an in-depth letter from a teaching assistant or lecturer with whom you worked closely than to have a cursory letter from a renowned professor who barely knows you.

Unless you have been in the work force for a few years, letters from people outside academia carry considerably less weight, since they are unable to address the topic of greatest interest to admissions committees: your academic potential. If you would like to submit additional letters even though a school sent you only two forms, simply duplicate the form. Four letters is considered the maximum number to send to a school.

Approach potential letter writers well in advance of the application deadline. Ask them, "Do you feel you know me well enough to write a positive letter on behalf of my application to law school?" If the answer is yes, provide information to assist him/her in writing a detailed letter:

> a cover sheet describing your relationship, including courses you have taken, research you have conducted, your experience as a TA, etc.
> a copy of your transcript
> a draft of your personal statement (if available)
> a resume
> copies of exams or papers written in his/her class
> recommendation forms from the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book or from the law schools
> stamped envelopes addressed to the LSAC or to the schools
> a list of dates when recommendations are due

Also, be sure to discuss waiving your right of access to the letters. You should probably waive your right of access since some individuals will not write letters unless they know applicants will not have access to them, and some admissions committee members may somewhat discount disclosed letters. Since you may not have access to letters, be sure your recommenders are suitably enthusiastic about writing letters for you; if you sense any hesitation when you ask someone, even if he/she agrees, thank the person but do not follow through.

If you have not been notified that your application is complete by about one month before a deadline, call the school to see if your letters of recommendations have arrived. Immediately contact those writers who have not sent letters yet and remind them politely of the approaching deadline. After you have received decisions, send thank you letters to your recommenders and let them know where you have been accepted and where you intend to enroll.

Trinity’s Office of Career Services provides a credential service that enables you to maintain a file of recommendation letters and other documents. If you will be leaving Trinity before you apply to law school, you are encouraged to establish a file and have letters in support of your law school applications sent to the credential service. You may also want to consider using the letter of recommendation service offered by LSDAS. Recommenders send letters directly to the LSDAS, which then forwards up to three letters to each law school where you are applying. Information about the service can be found in the LSAT/LSDAS Registration and Information Book.

·         Dean’s Certification

Along with your glowing recommendation letters, comes a request for another type of letter. All law schools will ask for a letter from a dean to comment on any behavioral issues that surfaced during your undergraduate years. In no uncertain terms, this simply means that you need to behave. Disciplinary action imposed by the college is stored in your file, and will be discovered and reported when you request a letter. The application forms for law schools will have the Dean's Form for you to bring to Dr. Ann Reuman, Associate Dean of Students. You can reach her office by calling extension 2156.

·         Supplementary Information

Experience. This factor may encompass a wide range of pursuits—from undergraduate curricular and extracurricular activities, to internships, to full-time work experience, etc.—which demonstrate that the applicant has skills and abilities relevant to the study of law and will contribute to the diversity and strength of the class.

Expanded Résumé. It is optional to include an Expanded Resume with your applications. The Expanded Resume is a summary of the important events, activities and experiences in your life, focused predominantly on your college years. Its format is similar to a resume, but includes a more descriptive listing of each item. For instance, when listing a work or extracurricular experience, you should describe why you got involved in it, what you actually did (what specific duties you performed) and what you derived from the experience. In this way, information about your motivations and personal development becomes clear.

When you develop your expanded resume, avoid repeating information already presented in your application. Examples include your home address, name, social security number, and specific courses, since law schools will have your transcript. If you decide to discuss in detail two or three extra-curricular experiences as your personal statement/essay, then list these activities only briefly on the resume. If you decide to discuss a work experience in your personal statement/essay, you need only to briefly write it on the resume. Use this expanded resume to discuss or explain accomplishments such as a thesis topic, a special academic honor, or a study-abroad program.

It is helpful to give copies of your Expanded Resume to your recommenders so they can write more comprehensive letters supporting your applications. Remember to include this optional Expanded Resume in your application only if it provides additional information not revealed elsewhere in the application or in your personal statement/essay.

If you have been out of school for some time, then a regular, business-oriented resume is an acceptable alternative.