If you’re contemplating attending law school, chances are you have certain goals in mind for yourself and what that entails – such as helping people, intellectual rigor or finding the ideal work-life balance.
Now is the time to conduct your research! Register for the LSAT, collect transcripts and letters of recommendation, and add school deadlines/enrollment timelines to your calendar.
Early Decision
If you are serious about law school and have your top choice in mind, apply early decision. Early decision applications typically open in fall and must be received by most schools by December 1. They are binding applications, which expect you to commit if accepted.
Admissions teams tend to be more accommodating for early applicants and often offer additional scholarships. You could also receive a response sooner – some schools aim to give early decision students their decision by December or within a month or two of applying.
However, most ED programs require you to withdraw any other applications should you be accepted, which could reduce your chances of receiving other merit-based scholarships or delaying acceptance for one year. Therefore, applying to only those schools at the very top of your list for consideration would be wise; although this approach carries risk and might ultimately prove advantageous.
Regular Decision
Even though the admissions cycle may be heating up, that doesn’t mean it’s too late to apply! Applying in regular decision can actually offer many advantages: for instance, taking another LSAT may give your academic record more time to show progress while creating a thoughtful application without feeling pressure to submit early applications.
With proper planning and preparation, submitting law school applications shouldn’t be as stressful. Provided you have a solid plan and allow yourself ample time to prepare application materials – including giving your personal statement a thorough edit-rewrite–submitting applications in September or January is usually acceptable by most schools; though quality over timing should always take precedence; to increase chances of admission to your desired program of choice aim for submission no later than December without compromising material quality.
Rolling Admissions
Applying through rolling admissions may allow applicants to bypass traditional application deadlines and may not require letters of recommendation, with some schools even opting out of interview submissions altogether.
However, a school’s rolling admissions policy cannot guarantee an early decision and students should still complete and retake the LSAT and submit an application as quickly as possible.
Navigating application deadlines can be stressful, so applying early and thoroughly is the key to making your application stand out. Start researching schools, studying for the LSAT, writing personal statements, and editing/submitting them as soon as possible so as to reduce stress in the fall semester and give yourself enough time for negotiations of financial aid or exploring alternatives that could better suit you.
Deadlines
Many law schools utilize a rolling admissions process and begin reviewing applications well in advance of their official deadline, making early application advantageous. Therefore, it’s wise to submit applications as early as possible in the cycle to avoid disappointment and save yourself from disappointment!
Apply for law school as early as fall of your junior year for optimal results. This allows for ample time to take or retake the LSAT, create your school list, gather recommendations from friends or professors, and compile a strong application package.
Once your applications have been sent in, take some time to relax a bit before keeping track of any LSAC tasks or law school deadlines that may arise. Staying organized by staying aware of deadlines will help keep all materials ready when they’re due; being more prepared will increase your odds of acceptance into your preferred schools! Good luck! Sherag is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting – one of the world’s premier law school admissions consulting firms.
