Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Applying to Law School
But Were Afraid to Ask

Jeremy Buchman
Associate Professor of Political Science
and Pre-Law Advisor
307 Hoxie Hall
jeremy.buchman@liu.edu
(516) 299-3124

Here are some links that should get you started in your quest to find, and apply successfully to, the law school of your choice. I'll start by tackling what is perhaps the most common question I receive: "What major should I pursue if I want to go to law school?" Here's what the American Bar Association (ABA) has to say on the subject:

"The ABA does not recommend any undergraduate majors or group of courses to prepare for a legal education. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. You may choose to major in subjects that are considered to be traditional preparation for law school, such as history, English, philosophy, political science, economics or business, or you may focus your undergraduate studies in areas as diverse as art, music, science and mathematics, computer science, engineering, nursing or education. Whatever major you select, you are encouraged to pursue an area of study that interests and challenges you, while taking advantage of opportunities to develop your research and writing skills. Taking a broad range of difficult courses from demanding instructors is excellent preparation for legal education. A sound legal education will build upon and further refine the skills, values, and knowledge that you already possess. "

Your choice of major, in the end, should be dictated by your scholarly interests. Pursue your passion, challenge yourself intellectually, and develop the skills that will serve you well in your legal career.

If, however, you're having second thoughts (or first thoughts) about your decision to go to law school, then I'd recommend Letter to a Young Law Student, courtesy of Slate's Dahlia Lithwick.

For advice on maximizing your odds of acceptance to the law school of your choice, I'd recommend this page, courtesy of Dan Pinello of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. Also highly recommended is FindLaw.com's collection of pre-law links, as is Top-Law-Schools.com, which features articles on virtually every aspect of the application process, including this one on finding a school in the New York market (though I should note that it's targeting students who are seeking to work for big law firms, so if you're not considering that career path, discount the author's advice accordingly).

If you'd like to know how your GPA-LSAT combination relates to the probability of admission to the law school of your choice, you'll definitely want to check out the ABA-LSAC Official Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools. The site provides a tremendous range of information about every ABA-accredited law school, and you would be foolish to apply to law schools without having looked at it. In previous years, students had to come to my office to view this information in printed form, or procure the book at their expense. Now, thanks to the miracle of technology (and LSAC's desire to save money), you can access this information from anywhere. 

The ABA also collects information, available here, that is crucial to your law school search. You'll be able to access a wide range of data about each ABA-accredited law school, including demographic information about students and faculty, generosity with financial aid, acceptance rates, bar passage rates, and which sectors of the legal world graduates gravitate to. If you're researching law schools, stop whatever you're doing and visit this site. Seriously. This page will still be here when you return. 

And here's a link to the NAPLA/SAPLA Book of Law School Lists that has so much information that it merits special attention. Want to know

• Which schools offer joint degree programs?
• Which schools offer a particular specialization that interests you, or study abroad opportunities, or clinical programs in your preferred field?
• Which schools have evening programs, or summer programs, or January start dates?
• Whether a particular student organization has a chapter at the schools you're considering?
• Whether the schools you're considering have non-need based scholarships? Or offer loan repayment assistance programs?
• Which schools will allow you to defer matriculation?
• How schools treat multiple LSAT scores?
• Or would you like to see massive tables featuring admissions and support data?

If so, you'll want to check it out. Warning: the PDF runs several hundred pages, so be prepared for a sizable download.


And if you're a prospective or current LIU Post student who is wondering where Post alumni have been admitted, here is a list.

Some other sites of interest:

• LSAT dates and deadlines: In addition to providing a handy calendar of LSAT test dates and deadlines, this Law School Admissions Council website also offers directions for those applicants who seek information on test date changes and refunds. When deciding on a test date, keep in mind that (1) each school has its own application deadlines, and (2) many schools have rolling admissions, which means that applications will be considered on a first come-first served basis.
• Michigan State University College of Law Webinar Recordings: Looking for insights into virtually every aspect of legal education you can think of, and many that you can't? There's an excellent chance you'll find a webinar on the subject. Recent examples include, "Factoring in GPA and LSAT," "The Dos and Don'ts for Competitive Personal and Diversity Statements," and "What Makes a Competitive Resume and LOR."
  
• "Choosing a Law School": Courtesy of Princeton Review, this page also includes links to articles such as "4 Myths about the LSAT" and "LSAT Overview."
• Criminal justice resources
  
• How to Become a Lawyer: This site is especially helpful in its detailed descriptions of different legal specializations, as well as its interactive tools enabling state-by-state comparisons of job growth opportunities and salaries.
  
• The Incoming One-L FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions): Want some sense of what to expect during your first year of law school? Charles Glasser, a graduate of NYU Law School, offers advice designed to help you survive the numerous challenges that 1Ls typically face.
  
• Internet Legal Resource Guide's Pre-Law Student Services: One-stop shopping for links related to all aspects of the law school application process. You can find information related to test preparation, scholarship and financial aid availability, school rankings, median GPA and LSAT scores for schools, and so much more. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 
  
• Internet Legal Resource Guide's Law School Information Index: Includes law-school rankings, links to pages of schools' web sites (both American and international), and internet directories.
  
• LSAT & CAS (Credential Assembly Service): At this site, you can register to take the LSAT and to use the CAS, which prepares reports for each school to which you apply. Virtually all ABA-accredited law schools will require you to register with CAS. The Law School Admissions Council recommends that you register for CAS about six weeks before you plan to apply to particular law schools. If you are absolutely unable to pay the required fees for the LSAT or CAS, click here for information on applying for a fee waiver.
  
• Links to New York-area law schools and their application deadlines : There's an amazing amount of material made available on the Web by law schools themselves. Want to know whether a school has a program in entertainment law, or loan forgiveness for those seeking to pursue public-interest law, or minority scholarships? Curious about the faculty there? Take advantage of the bounty of readily available information.
  
• Paying for law school: This page has links to sources of information about scholarships and loans.
• Resources for Female Law School Students: This guide includes a multitude of links to materials of particular interest to women in law, including scholarships and professional organizations committed to furthering inclusivity and equity in law.
  
• Student health and well-being
• Summer Pre-Law Programs: Links to programs that provide exposure to law school classes, advice on the application process, and professional counseling.
  
• Test-preparation: These folks offer a variety of courses to prepare you for the LSAT, and their websites contain a wide variety of information and advice.
• Top 8 Majors for Future Law Students, from Student Training & Education in Public Service (STEPS), explains how various popular majors can prepare one effectively for law school.
  
• Writing the personal statement: Oftentimes, students don't quite know where to start when writing their personal statements. Here are some sites that offer various strategies and insights you might find valuable.