What do I need to accomplish as a Pre-Law student and when?

Freshman Year

• Explore majors to find what fits your interests
• Interact with your professors
• Become involved in 2-3 student activities and groups
• Work hard

Sophomore Year

• Determine what you need to do in the next year to improve your application
• Choose your major and minor
• Maintain involvement in a narrow set of student activities
• Work hard!

Junior Year

• Attend the fall meeting for Pre-Law students
• Meet with your Pre-Law advisor in the fall or spring
• Take part in a law-oriented internship program
• Plan to take the “ideal” LSAT the June after your junior year. Registration is usually due 4-5 weeks prior to the test. You will receive your scores in July
• Identify 2 professors who could provide recommendations, as well as persons in other contexts (internships, employers, volunteer settings)

Senior Year

August/September

• Attend the fall meeting for Pre-Law students
• Meet with your Pre-Law advisor
• Make an appointment with the Pre-Law advisor to discuss test scores
• Sign up for the October LSAT, if you did not take the June test
• Obtain applications from the law schools, starting August 1
• Attend an LSAC Law School forum, typically in Chicago in September
• Work on your personal statement. Plan on at least 4 drafts
• Contact recommendation letter writers and make requests
• Subscribe to LSDAS and have your official transcript(s) sent to them

Late September/Early October

• Second LSAT: if taking this LSAT, follow the advice for September (above) when your test scores are in
• Mail in your applications by November 1

December

• Third LSAT: (early in the month) if you are a late applicant, take it now
• Check with law schools to see that your applications are complete
• If you took the Sept/Oct. LSAT, mail in your applications ASAP
• Letters from law schools with rolling/early admissions may begin arriving

January

• Fill out Federal Financial Aid forms

March/April/May

• March is the final application deadline for many law schools

In April and May, letters from law schools without rolling admissions arrive

• Secure housing in law school area