COURSE WORK:

• Select a major that provides opportunities to develop analytical, research, and communication skills.
• Balance courses that indicate breadth of study with depth of study--foreign languages, math, philosophy, logic, etc.
• Get to know your professors.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

• Aim for well-roundness, but do not sacrifice grades for over-involvement.
• Test your interest in the legal field in a variety of settings.
• Be active in your community.
• Develop leadership and public speaking skills

LETTERS OF REFERENCE:

• See LSAC’s website at http://www.lsac.org/Applying/letters-of-recommendation.asp
• Request a letter as soon as possible after your interaction with the potential writers: professors, graduate student instructors, advisors from leadership or volunteer experiences, internship supervisors, employers, etc. Obtain these letters now although you may not apply immediately.
• Make sure your file has at least one academic reference. However, reference letter policies vary from school to school.

LSAT (Law School Admission Test):

• Test is scored on a scale of 120-180 in the following areas: reading comprehension, analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, and writing.
• The test is given in the following months:
  • June
  • September
  • December
  • February
• Take the necessary steps to prepare for the test, for example take the Kaplan or Princeton Review Test Preparation Courses
• Register for the LSAT on line at http://www.lsac.org/LSAT/about-the-lsat.asp by the appropriate deadline.
• Take the test when you are most prepared--traditionally, spring of junior year or fall of senior year. Do not take the test just for practice as all scores count!

LSDAS (Law School Data Assembly Service):

• Register online with the Service at http://www.lsac.org/Applying/lsdas-general-information.asp.  Registration with LSDAS is required by nearly all ABA accredited law schools and some non-ABA accredited law schools.
• LSDAS registration will extend for five years from your registration date.
• Provide LSDAS with official transcripts from any institution attended. See more details at http://www.lsac.org/Applying/lsdas-requesting-transcripts.asp

LAW SCHOOL APPLICATIONS:

• Research and identify programs of interest to you: consult with professors and academic advisors, meet with a pre-law counselor and the Career Development Center.
• Depending on how many schools you plan to apply, starting in late August/early September, utilize LSDAS Electronic Applications (available at www.lsac.org) to complete applications for all ABA-approved law schools via a common-information format that allows you to answer common questions once (most efficient approach). Alternatively, download the applications from each individual school's website when available.
• Complete applications in a professional and thoughtful manner.
• Select the best schools for you. Factors to consider include: geographical location, prestige of institution, cost, caliber of teaching faculty, academic environment, choice of electives, facilities, class size, quality of life, placement record, bar passage rate, specialized programs, etc.
• Attend the Law School Admissions forum and other programs throughout the academic year to learn about preparation and application to law school, individual schools' programs, etc.
• Have your Reference Letter file sent to LSDAS if you are utilizing their service or directly to the individual law schools.

PERSONAL STATEMENT:

• Begin writing well in advance. Allow time for several revisions and have your essay proofread by others (i.e., pre-law counselors in The Career Development Center, pre-law advisors, your professors, etc.)
• Develop a well-written essay, shedding light on who you are, your values, goals and passions.
• Provide new information--information, that is, that cannot be found in other parts of your application.
• Be reflective rather than descriptive in your approach.
• Ensure your statement is grammatically and stylistically correct, and, especially, interesting to read.
• Support your thoughts with a few concrete examples, when possible.
• Address the questions asked on each application if applicable.
• Do not try to use one personal statement for all applications if it does not directly apply.
• Consider requests for “optional” essays as a way schools gauge applicants’ interest in their specific program.

FINANCIAL AID:

• Learn about financial aid for law school at http://www.lsac.org/Financing/financial-aid-introduction.asp
• Request information directly from law schools of interest to you.

QUESTIONS?

• Schedule an appointment with a pre-law counselor or advisor or speak to your counselor at the Career Development Center.

HELPFUL WEB SITES:

• For information on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS), log on to the Law School Admission Council at: http://www.lsac.org/
• To identify schools where your scores and grades are most competitive for admission, see: The Law School Locator at http://www.bc.edu/offices/careers/gradschool/law/lawlocator.html for national statistics
• To gather information on schools, application strategies, rankings and more, log on to the Internet Legal Resource Guide at www.ilrg.com