Timeline for Applying to Law School

By this time, you should have a good idea on what type of legal career you are working toward. During your junior year, you should start collecting information on the different law schools located in the U.S. and prepare yourself for the LSAT exam. During your senior year, you should start applying to law school.

Junior Year:

September

• View different catalogs and directories on Law schools (in print and online), such as The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools.
• Start establishing rapport with faculty.
• Prepare for the June LSAT.
• Gain experience in the field.

March

• Register for the June LSAT.
• Discuss your plans with a pre-law advisor.
• Create a list of faculty, who you wish to write letters of reference for you and start a file for letters of recommendation.

June

• Take the LSAT exam.
• Prepare a draft of your personal statement and have it reviewed by a pre-law advisor.
• Prepare a draft of your resume.
• Create a list of Law schools that you plan on applying to.

July-August

• Register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS).
• Have your higher education transcripts sent to LSDAS.
• Request information packets from Law schools.
• Visit Law schools.
• If necessary, register and prepare for the October LSAT.

Senior Year:

September

• Order the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) catalog and application or complete an electronic version.
• Finish writing your personal statement.
• Update your resume.
• Ask faculty for letters of recommendation.
• Ask a professional acquaintance or employer for a reference. Provide employers with a sample reference.
• Request financial aid information.
• Continue to visit Law schools.

October

• If needed, take the October LSAT.
• Finalize your personal statement.
• Finalize your letters of recommendation.
• Complete the LSDAS report.
• Make sure all law school applications have been completed before mailed.

November

• Send completed applications to Law schools.
• Obtain applications for financial aid (federal, institutional, private), e.g. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

December

• Contact law schools to confirm the completion of your application.
• Relax and enjoy the holidays.

January

• Have an updated transcript (which includes your fall term) sent to law schools and LSDAS.
• Submit completed financial aid forms.
• Prepare for Interviews.

February - April

• Evaluate offers of acceptance.
• Evaluate financial aid offers.
• Submit an acceptance letter to the Law School of your choice.
• Submit rejection letters to the schools that you will not attend