Pre-Law Handbook THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION PROCESS

Transcription

1 Pre-Law Handbook THE LAW SCHOOL ADMISSION PROCESS

2 I. Introduction: Do You Really Want to Be a Lawyer? Over the years, many liberal arts students have chosen law as a means to continue their higher education while preparing for a meaningful career. The legal field attracts generalists eager to participate in a profession that values broad-based interests, strong organizational and writing skills, and critical thinking. Law school involves a significant investment of time, money and personal energy. Before deciding to apply, it is important to consider whether law school is the best choice for you. How can you tell if you really want to be a lawyer? Think about what you want out of your career. What are your long and short-term goals? Is a law degree necessary for you to accomplish your goals? Talk to lawyers who enjoy practicing, and to those who don't. Talk to criminal lawyers, corporate lawyers, solopractitioners, public service lawyers. Talk to lawyers who have gone into business, journalism or academia. This will not be hard, since most lawyers love to talk about the law. Bowdoin Career Planning can help you find, meet, and contact lawyers. Visit a law school and sit in on some classes. Do you find the subject matter interesting? Do you find the professors intimidating, or challenging? Could you imagine being one of the students? You may also want to take law-related courses offered at Bowdoin to evaluate your level of interest. Explore legal employment opportunities. Consider landing a summer internship or working as a paralegal to further evaluate the profession before committing to three years of law school. Consider whether a different graduate degree, such as one in business or public administration, might better suit your purposes. Attend the "Is Law School in Your Future?" workshop sponsored by the Legal Studies Advisory Group in September, as well as the Graduate and Professional School Fair in the Fall. Graduates who are unable to attend the informational programs offered at the College may find the sections of this handbook to be very useful. The pre-law advisor at Bowdoin Career Planning will work with all Bowdoin law applicants, no matter when they graduated, to support and advise during the application process. Members of the Legal Studies Advisory Group are available to give advice on targeting schools of interest, taking the LSAT, writing personal statements, gathering letters of recommendation, securing financial aid, and making other important decisions involved in pursuing a legal education. Bowdoin Career Planning also has a number of books and web resources on applying to law school, joint degree programs, financing a law degree, traditional and alternative careers in the law, and resources for students of color. II. Researching the Schools A. Where should you apply? Law schools will look at a combination of your LSAT scores, academic record, letters of recommendation, personal statement, extracurricular activities and life experience. As in the college admissions process, it is important to apply to schools where you have a realistic chance of being admitted, as well as targeting one or two more selective schools and some back-ups. There is no limit to the number of schools you may apply to, but members of the Legal Studies Advisory Group suggest applying to no more than ten or twelve schools. There are several resources available that provide information on each school's selectivity. Individual law schools will publish information about the median LSAT scores and grade point averages of accepted students in their catalogues. Another good place to start is There is a whole section about choosing a law school, and there s a database of law schools that you can search by keyword, location, or your combination of LSAT and undergraduate GPA. This directory contains selfdescriptions of ABA-approved schools. There is also information on each school's admissions requirements, programs, facilities, student body, activities, tuition, and financial aid : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 2

3 The NAPLA Law School Locator helps applicants assess the LSAT and GPA expectations of different law schools in relation to their own quantitative credentials. The Locator lists the 25 th to 75 th percentile LSAT scores and GPA ranges of first year classes at accredited law schools, entering in This means that half of a law school s entering class scored in the indicated range. You can also find the Locator on the web at: It is important to remember that, while quantitative factors alone do not determine your chances for admission, they provide a useful framework for assessing those schools at which your qualitative credentials can pull the most weight. For your own purposes, consider whether your interests and activities match up with any of the special programs offered by a particular school. You may also want to consider the geographic location of the school, and whether it is considered a regional or national law school in terms of career placement opportunities. It is important to focus your applications on schools where you have a reasonable chance. It is equally important to assess whether the school will meet your needs in the long run. Every law school has its own web site through which you can get further information about their offerings. You may link to these various sites easily at Law School Admission Council website: ( General information about the numerous services offered to law school applicants through LSAC is also available through this site. B. How Do You Evaluate Schools? The following factors may be important in deciding which schools are suitable for you: Faculty & Students Faculty academic training and areas of expertise research activity teaching effectiveness and accessibility Students competitive or collegial student body full-time v. part-time and residential v. commuter Program class size, student/faculty ratio internships, clinics, independent study core curriculum/degree requirements joint degree programs research assistant opportunities journal or moot court activities diversity of student organizations Resources sources of financial aid, fellowships, and other funding library and computer research facilities on or off-campus housing total cost of degree to you Career Services states and firms/organizations where recent graduates are employed first time bar passage and judicial clerkship rates average income of graduates loan repayment assistance programs and funding for public interest internships and careers. professional accomplishments of graduates Find out whether any Bowdoin alumni/ae are enrolled at the schools you are interested in. You may be able to obtain this information from the Bowdoin Career Planning or the admissions office at the law school. If possible, visit law schools. Although personal interviews are not required at most law schools, it is helpful to meet with admissions officers, faculty, administrators, and students to learn more about what the law school has to offer. While meetings with these individuals are not normally factored into the admissions decision, making a special effort to visit a school or speak with an admissions representative at a law school fair or forum can positively impact your application : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 3

4 Moreover, the information you obtain through a visit and by talking to students, faculty and administration will be important in your final decision regarding which law school to attend. Remember, the school you select will be your home for a good portion of the next three years. What region of the country would you like to live in? Do you want to be part of a large or small class? Would you prefer a residential or commuter setting? In addition to your academics, these factors will affect your overall law school experience. C. Joint Degree Programs Joint degree programs offer students the opportunity to study law and another field, typically in one year less than the time it would take to pursue each degree individually. Candidates must apply and be accepted to both programs separately in most cases. Since first-year law school academic requirements are consistent for single or joint-degree candidates, most schools will permit you to apply for a joint degree during your first year of law school as well. The standard model for a joint degree program is as follows: students complete their first year of law school (following the typical first year law curriculum), followed by a second year of full-time study in the chosen discipline. The final years combine courses from both law and the second degree program. When considering a joint degree, it is important to ask yourself the following questions: If you view a joint degree as a way to enhance your JD, could you instead do this through elective courses and clinical programs? How will a joint degree help you achieve your goals? Are there any downsides? What will you gain or sacrifice in fulfilling the requirements of a joint-degree program? Some considerations in pursuing a traditional JD vs. a joint degree include: o open electives vs. a pre-determined curriculum; o formal education in 1 field vs. 2 fields; o 3 years of tuition vs. 4 years of tuition; o entering the workforce in 3 years vs. 4 years; and o working closely with law school classmates vs. working with students from two different programs. The NAPLA/SAPLA Book of Law School Lists, available in the Career Planning Office, identifies and lists numerous factors that may influence your law school decision. These include clinical programs, law school publications, student organizations, joint-degree programs and more. LSAG advisors, Bowdoin alumni in the legal profession, law & graduate faculty and admissions staff, as well as others who share your professional aspirations can serve as sounding boards and resources as you investigate whether or not a joint degree program is for you. III. The LSAT and Credential Assembly Service A. What is the LSAT? The LSAT is a half-day standardized test consisting of five 35-minute multiple-choice sections, four of which are considered in scoring the test. The test includes one reading comprehension, one analytical reasoning, and two logical reasoning sections, plus one variable section. A thirty-minute writing sample is also required; although the sample is not scored, a copy is sent to each law school to which the LSAT score is reported. It is important to take the writing sample seriously because you will never know who might read the sample throughout the application process. The LSAT score is a three-digit number ranging from 120 to 180, which is determined by the number of correct answers. Nothing is subtracted for a wrong answer and all questions are worth the same number of points. Many students wonder whether they should take the LSAT more than once. Some law schools will average your scores, and others consider only the higher score. If you are certain that circumstances caused you to do more poorly than you otherwise would, and believe you can increase your score by five points or more, then taking the test again is advisable. The LSAT is offered four times a year in June, September/October, December, and February. Results from the February test will be received too late for admission to most law school classes. The test is administered on the Bowdoin campus on all of these dates. We STRONGLY encourage applicants to take the June or the September/October administration of the test : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 4

5 B. LSAT/Credential Assembly Service Registration. You must register for the LSAT on-line through Test-takers will receive notification of their LSAT scores electronically, usually about 3 weeks after the test is administered. When you register for the LSAT, you also need to register with the Credential Assembly Service in order to have test scores and undergraduate transcript information forwarded to law schools to which you are applying. This subscription remains active for five years and is renewed each time you register for the LSAT. C. FlexApp. The online law school application system FlexApp -- incorporate a common-information form and flow-as-you-go features that allow users to answer common law school application questions once-the program places the answers in the appropriate spot in the individual law school applications selected, saving time and effort. Personal statements, résumés, and information can be attached electronically to each application and transmitted to the law schools by LSAC along with Letters of Recommendation and transcripts. Users must have a current Credential Assembly Service registration in order to transmit applications. D. Fee Waivers LSAC offers online fee waiver applications for the following services: two LSAT tests, registration for the Credential Assembly Service (including four free law school reports), and a copy of the Official LSAT Super Prep. Applicants may complete the fee waiver application at the time they create an LSAC online account. E. Accommodated Testing. If you have a documented disability, LSAT testing accommodations may be available. You can review disability guidelines and download accommodation request forms through LSAC encourages candidates who need accommodations to register and submit all required documentation well in advance of the registration deadlines. Requests for accommodations that are received after listed deadlines will be denied, but can be reconsidered upon request for the next administration of the test. Request this very early. It is notoriously difficult for applicants to get accommodated testing. F. Test Preparation Options. If you register early enough for the LSAT, you will have enough time to experiment with different preparation techniques and find those best suited to your schedule, personality and study habits. Study aids and previously administered LSATs may be ordered from LSAC for a reasonable fee when you register for the LSAT. The CPC has a number of prep books and sample tests that are available for you to borrow. These can also be purchased in bookstores. We can also suggest some resources that will help you evaluate the preparation method that will best work for you. The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs has limited financial aid available to support test prep for students who need it. The following companies offer LSAT preparation courses. Contact them directly for the latest course schedules and price information. Bowdoin College does not specifically endorse any of the following companies, although Princeton Review runs a course on Bowdoin s campus each spring. The Princeton Review LSAT Intensive Review Phone: 800-2REVIEW Phone: Stanley H. Kaplan Educational Center, Ltd. Testmasters Phone: 800-KAP-TEST Phone: MainePrep GetPrepped Phone: Phone: Exam Krackers Knewton : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 5

6 IV. The Personal Statement The personal statement is your opportunity to tell the law school about yourself, above and beyond numbers and statistics. Since most law schools do not give personal interviews, the statement is the most personal encounter you will have with the admissions committee. Some applications will ask for the statement to address a specific question or topic, while others allow an openended approach. The statement can be a critical factor in the admission decision. Admissions officers read the personal statements very carefully. Keep the focus on yourself and your strengths. Use a clear, straightforward and persuasive style. (This will be important when you begin to tackle legal writing assignments.) The personal statement is not the appropriate place for a treatise on politics or the nature of the judicial process. Discuss experiences that made you want to study law or that have informed your personal convictions and goals for the future. How did you become interested in a legal career? Was there a teacher or role model who influenced your decision? What are your career goals and how will a legal education help you attain them? Keep the statement focused by describing specific incidents that promoted your interest and stressing the characteristics and abilities that will make you a successful law student. If you have relevant work or volunteer experience, you may want to discuss how they relate to your decision to study law. Have you worked in politics, or for a local government or community organization? If you discuss extracurricular activities, be sure to explain what you learned or how you grew through these activities. Simply listing them is redundant, since this information is already included in your application. You may choose to attach an addendum to your statement, particularly if you wish to discuss any perceived weaknesses, such as a poor semester, a gap in your education due to a severe personal or family crisis, or a medical disability. Also, if you are a poor standardized test taker, but have a high grade point average, you may want to explain this seeming contradiction, without being apologetic. Do not, however, spend more time explaining your weaknesses than highlighting your strengths. We will work with you on your personal statement. Leave enough time for several revisions and drafts. We have a number of books on specific aspects of applying to law school in the Bowdoin Career Planning Library. Note: A quick review of Elements of Style by Strunk and White will improve your personal statement. Ask an advisor to review the final draft of the statement before you submit it. The personal statement should be typewritten and should not exceed two pages. V. Letters of Recommendation Most law schools require two or three letters of recommendation. Think about which faculty members, advisors, supervisors, etc. know you in a way that would enable them to write a meaningful and positive letter to a law school. For recent graduates, ideally seek letters from at least 2 professors who have a high opinion of your ability to perform in law school, know you well, and will take the time to write effective letters of recommendation. When you ask someone whether he or she is able to write a supportive letter of recommendation on your behalf, gauge his or her response and decide whether you feel comfortable going forward with this person. No matter whom you select, schedule some time with him or her to review your goals and accomplishments. Many Bowdoin professors like to see the applicant's personal statement and resume before writing the recommendation. Make sure you allow two to four weeks for the person to write the recommendation, and suggest a date by which he or she will need to send it in to ensure that your application is on schedule and complete. In addition to a professor, an employer or personal mentor from a community, sports or religious organization can be an excellent reference. This is especially true if the person knows you well and can attest to your personal character and if you have been out of college for a number of years. Asking an individual to write a recommendation who may be well-known in the legal community, but does not know you well, is not very constructive : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 6

7 Remember to write a thank you letter to each of your references. Also, let them know the status of your applications. You have the option of seeing the letter of recommendation or you may waive the right to review it. Some faculty prefer that the recommendation be confidential because it represents a vote of confidence in them, and they feel the letter will be more influential. Indeed, law schools may also regard a waived letter more seriously. However, if you go ahead with a recommender about whom you have any doubts, do not waive your right to review the letter. Some schools may also request a Dean s certification. Bowdoin s contact for these forms is Dean Lesley Levy. For detailed information about Dean's certifications and answers to frequently asked questions, seethe last page of this handout. VI. Financial Aid The expense side of law school adds up quickly! Think hard about the debt burden you will be taking on to go to law school, and how paying it back will impact your work choices when you graduate. A. Investigate your financial aid options. Although grants and scholarships are the most attractive type of financial aid, they are also the most limited. Most students take loans and work-study jobs in order to cover law school costs. A helpful start might be to read the section on called Financing Law School. B. Complete the FAFSA. If you hope to receive any type of financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships, etc.), the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (called FAFSA) must be completed. FAFSA forms cannot be filed prior to January of the year you intend to begin law school. The FAFSA is available through any financial aid office, or by calling FED-AID, or online at FAFSA information is sent to the financial aid office(s) at the school(s) you listed on the form. Also, be sure that you and your parents complete your tax returns as early as possible. C. Research each school's unique financial aid options. Most law schools offer some financial assistance based on academic merit, financial need, or a combination of both. Start with a telephone call to receive a financial aid information package from your selected school(s). Be sure to meet scholarship and grant application deadlines. Any "merit aid" you receive means less you have to borrow or take out of current income. Each school has its own deadline for filing financial aid information. The deadline should be stated in the admissions materials. Remember that applying for financial aid from law schools is an integrated process, and that the schools will almost surely expect that, as part of any aid package, you take out some of the loans described in the above section. D. Explore external scholarship sources. A very limited amount of outside scholarship assistance is available to prospective law students which can be used to supplement the financial aid package offered by law schools. Sources include government agencies, private industry, civic organizations, religious groups, unions, private memorial foundations, cultural and ethnic groups, and local bar associations. Qualifications vary significantly from program to program. E. Consider financial aid available from Bowdoin. Bowdoin offers several scholarships to qualified students and graduates who are admitted to law school for the coming year. Applications are available in the Student Aid Office (ext. 3273, Gustafson House, 261 Maine Street), and are due to the Director of Student Aid by early May. The application is also available on the website at The scholarships include the following: George and Mary Knox Scholarship:...to provide scholarship assistance to qualified Bowdoin graduates enrolled as full-time students at either Harvard University Medical School, Harvard University Law School, or Harvard University Business School. Lee G. Paul Scholarship:... to provide financial assistance to graduates attending the Harvard University School of Law and requiring financial aid. Robinson-Davis Fund:...to provide graduate scholarships for students, preferably natives and residents of Maine... for those who intend to study and practice law : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 7

8 F. Investigate loan programs. A combination of federal and private loans is the most popular means by which law students finance their law school education. In fact, 80% of U.S. law students rely on education loans as their largest source of financial aid. Students are advised to maintain a good credit history in order to be approved by a lender. Federal loans are available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have an eligible Student Aid Report. Private loans are credit based and available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents as well as to foreign students who have a credit worthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer. Many of the lenders have introduced electronic and telephone application processes. The lender will take the required information over the Internet or the telephone, perform a credit check and either mails an application or a denial letter to the student applicant within a week. This is an excellent process for students concerned about their eligibility for private loans. Carefully read all application and promissory note material. Remember that the promissory note is your contract with the lender. You should include your promissory notes in your permanent financial records. For specific details about the mechanics of applying for (and repaying) loans for law school seek out the financial aid materials available in the graduate and professional school section of the CPC Resource Library and within the LSAC s Law School Resources pull-down menu ( under Financing Law School. Contact lending organizations, as well as the law school financial aid office(s) to find out about the best low-cost federal loans and private loan options for you. Begin to compare programs to find out which loan(s) works best for your family situation. There is also great information about loan repayment and student debt at VII Timeline for Applying JUNIOR YEAR September October Spring May June July August - Attend the workshop Is Law School in Your Future?" presented by the Legal Studies Advisory Group. - Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair on campus. Meet with representatives from law schools to discuss particulars about their programs. - Consider attending a Law School Forum in Boston or other location. - Schedule an individual appointment with a member of the Legal Studies Advisory Group. - Begin preparing for LSAT exam either on your own, by using one or more of the Official LSAT PrepTests, or through a commercial course. - Begin to review of law school websites on-line or request their catalogs. - Register for June Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Credential Assembly Service. - Take the LSAT. - Submit your transcripts to the Credential Assembly Service after grades from sixth semester are posted. This includes summer classes and study abroad coursework that is not detailed in your Bowdoin transcript. - In light of your LSAT score and grades, realistically consider the range of law schools to which you would like to apply. - Register for the September/October LSAT if you didn't take it in June or if you think you can significantly improve your score. - Begin work on application essays. - Conduct informational interviews with alumni and/or current students from the law schools where you would like to apply : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 8

9 SENIOR YEAR September October November December January February March April May Summer - Attend the "Is Law School in Your Future" workshop presented by the Legal Studies Advisory Group (particularly if you didn't your junior year). - Download or send for applications, catalogues, and financial aid information from all schools you are considering. Access websites for ABA-approved law schools from - Meet individually with members of the Legal Studies Advisory Group to discuss law schools to which you should apply (usually no more than 10-12). - Solicit letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members who know you well. - Continue to work on application essays. Ask members of the Legal Studies Advisory Group to review your drafts. - Consider attending a Law School Forum in Boston or other location. Check for all scheduled Law Forums. - Take the September/October LSAT if necessary - Visit law schools of particular interest. (Admission Offices are happy to schedule tours & class visits). - Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair on campus. Meet with representatives from law schools to discuss particulars about their programs. - Register for December LSAT if necessary. - Electronically submit completed application forms and keep photocopies; keep records of dates of mailings. Apply to law schools that you would seriously consider attending. - Take LSAT if necessary. - Finish submitting your applications. - Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, available online at - Follow-up to be sure all materials have been received by the law schools to which you applied. - Send seventh semester grades if they are requested, or if they are strong (send directly to law schools). - Wait for decisions and try to rank order the schools to which you have applied. - The LSAT given in this month is typically too late to be of use in applying to most law schools for the following fall. You may wish to take it at this time if you plan to enter law school in the near future, or if you have been placed on the waiting list. - WAIT FOR DECISION LETTERS. - Visit law schools where you have been admitted and are seriously considering. - An April 1 or 15 deposit deadline is in effect at many of the law schools to which you have been admitted. - Wait lists are being established at some law schools. - The decision process is winding down at most law schools and is finished at some. - Wait lists are established; it is to your advantage to write a letter or visit law schools at which you are waitlisted as an expression of continued interest. - You may be admitted from the wait list at some law schools. This offer of admission may come as late as the very end of August : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 9

10 LEGAL STUDIES ADVISORY GROUP Sherry Mason, Assistant Director of Career Planning Moulton, ext 3729 smason Jim Adolf, Assistant Director of Stewardship Programs Copeland House, x3038 jadolf Leana Amaez, Associate Dean of Multicultural Student Programs Moulton, x3048 mrichard George Isaacson, Esq., Adjunct Lecturer Contact via gisaacso and Attorney, Brann & Isaacson Craig McEwen, Professor of Sociology & Fellow, Banister Hall, x 7071 cmcewen Richard Morgan, Professor of Government Contact Government Department Allen Springer, Professor of Government Hubbard Hall, Ext aspringe VIII Dean s Forms/Dean s Certifications Some law schools ask applicants to submit a Dean s Form or Dean s Certification. It is important to note that law schools are not looking for a personal recommendation from your dean by requiring this form. These forms generally only seek to confirm certain details regarding your tenure at Bowdoin such as your dates of attendance, degree and year awarded or expected, and your major all of which can be found by looking at your permanent student file kept by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. The primary intent of such a form is to garner a report on your academic and behavioral standing while at Bowdoin. Denise Trimmer (in the office of the Dean of Student Affairs) coordinates the Dean s Forms at Bowdoin. Will you report my SATs or class rank? Will my GPA appear on my transcript? Often times, schools inquire regarding your class rank, grade point average and/or SAT scores. A typical response to this line of questioning is, Bowdoin College is unique in that it neither requires standardized tests for admission nor ranks its students. Bowdoin will not estimate or calculate class rank for law schools. However, we will reflect any Latin honors you may have received (i.e. summa, magna, or cum laude.) Bowdoin will also provide a student s cumulative GPA on their official school transcript. The most common questions on the Dean s Forms typically revolve around the issues of academic and personal misconduct. For example, a common Dean s Form question is, Has the applicant ever been subject to disciplinary action or proceedings for academic or personal misconduct? Yes or No? If so, please explain. If I was on academic probation will Bowdoin report yes or no to this question? In this case, as this question is written, our response would be "no", because being placed on academic probation at Bowdoin is not a result of "misconduct." In the event you have been found responsible for academic dishonesty, cheating or plagiarism, and that is on your permanent record, then we would of course be obligated to respond yes to the question above.please note, if a school asks for a report of academic "censure or "warning" for deficiency in scholarship (or some other similar wording) it becomes an entirely different question and we would answer yes, because the academic probationary status is, in fact, a form of a College warning. If I was on social probation will Bowdoin report yes or no to this question? Social probation, unlike academic probation, is a result of misconduct, and therefore, our response would be yes. However, if you had received an official College warning or reprimand, we would respond no since those sanctions do not become a permanent part of your record at Bowdoin. What if I don t/didn t know my dean? You should not worry if you do or do not personally know your dean. Most of the information that these schools are soliciting can be found by looking at your permanent student file kept by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs : : CPC@BOWDOIN.EDU : REVISED 09/11 : 10