Application Process
Law School Application Components
Law school applications are typically composed of the following components:
- School-specific application form
- A Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report that includes the following:
- Undergraduate transcript and, where applicable, graduate transcripts
- LSAT score(s) – or, very occasionally, GRE score
- Letters of Recommendation
- A Credential Assembly Service (CAS) Report that includes the following:
- Personal Statement
- Resume
- Addendum Statement(s), if needed
The Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) provides a helpful step-by-step guide to applying to law school.
Applying to law school is costly and time consuming so be sure to allow plenty of time to prepare each element of the application.
Application Timeline
Law schools admit applicants on a rolling basis and typically begin reviewing applications around the middle of October. Ideally, you should aim to submit your applications by the end of that month or the first week in November, at least for those schools at the top of your list.
Sample Application Timeline
Spring Semester Junior Year:
- Meet with your Prelaw Advisor.
- Create your LSAC account
- Register for the LSAT.
- Begin studying for the LSAT.
- Begin researching avenues for paying for law school.
Summer Before Senior Year:
- Take the LSAT (June or August).
- Work on your personal statement.
- Consider attending Law School Forums and Admissions fairs.
- Use resources such as the ABA’s 509 Disclosures, LSAC’s Law School Transparency, and AccessLex’s Xplore JD to identify law schools that fit your interests.
- Create your Credential Assembly Service account (CAS) through LSAC.
- Request letters of recommendation.
Fall Semester Senior Year:
- Take – or retake – the LSAT (September, October, November)
- Process CAS letter of recommendation requests.
- Request transcripts.
- Consider attending Law School Forums and Admissions fairs.
- Submit completed applications – ideally by early November.
Spring Semester Senior Year:
- Visit select school to which you have received admissions offers.
- If you are wait listed at a school, remain in contact with the school’s admissions officers. Submit a letter of continued interest and schedule a tour to show that you are still interested in the school.
- Accept/decline law school admission offers and submit the required deposits.