As the first in my immediate family to apply to law school, I felt like I was going into this looming process with very little information. I was extremely privileged to have supportive parents, mentors, and friends who helped me in many ways, but there were parts about the process that were still mystifying.
Here are some of the things that I wish I knew before applying to law school:
Do not underestimate The LSAT
I made this mistake. I thought it would take me at most 6 months to prepare. I ended up taking the test 4 times and studied consistently for more than a year. While this test is not impossible to master, it is definitely a beast that is not to be underestimated. Whatever time you think you may need for the test, I would recommend starting at least 6 months earlier. This way, even if you do amazing your first time around, you will have ample time to study and give yourself a cushion to get the best score you can.
Candidate Referral Service and Fee Waivers are easy money savers
I didn’t even know what the CRS was until after I got my final LSAT score. Thankfully, one of my colleagues randomly mentioned it and I decided to sign up on LSAC (CRS Link). Within a couple days, I received emails from about 60-70% of the schools I wanted to apply to, and they provided me with an automatic fee waiver. Those fees can cost up to about $80 per school, so I was very grateful to my colleague. It’s important to note that applications require both a school fee and a CAS (Candidate Assembly Service) fee, which can easily add up to $130 per application. If you qualify, you should ask for an LSAC fee waiver, which can waive even more fees, linked here. In addition, schools like Northwestern, Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown offer fee waivers on their websites, so definitely look for any fee waiver links for schools you’re interested in. Lastly, going to admissions sessions hosted online or by your undergraduate school can sometimes get you a fee waiver. Overall, it’s important to make a budget and understand all the little ways you can save money during this expensive process.
Be specific and thoughtful about each school’s unique requirements
When I finished my personal statement, I thought that I was pretty much done with my application. I didn’t realize how long the minor parts of the application would take me, and the main reason is that each school has varying requirements. Since most schools have unique requirements, filling these portions out can take longer than you think. One component to especially watch out for is your resume — many schools require you to list the number of hours spent per experience in your resume, but some don’t. If you’re applying to 10+ schools, all these differences can become overwhelming very quickly. I found that making a spreadsheet that listed out all the requirements of each individual school was extremely helpful in organizing and making tangible goals. Having a method that works for you can make the process feel more manageable.
Take Reddit and LSD with a grain of salt
I’ll admit that I was a Reddit and LSD addict at some points during the cycle, as they felt like the only way to have control over an otherwise uncertain process. While yes, some questions I had were answered by people on Reddit, and yes, I did get information about “waves” from LSD, there were many more times where I felt even more anxious than before I had checked these sites. People with seemingly perfect stats and extracurriculars were reporting their rejections and waitlists from schools I dreamed of. As a psychology major, I should’ve known that this was a classic example of self-selection bias — the people who were reporting their information were deciding to do this in the first place and may not be representative of the average student. While Reddit and LSD can sometimes be helpful with niche questions and provide some insight into the application process, don’t believe everything you read. Every application and situation is unique, so there is no one-size-fits-all response to every question.
The law school admissions process can be scary and unpredictable at times, but there are small things you can do to make it easier on yourself.
Remember that throughout this process, you are still human. Results and numbers don’t define you. Remember to continue doing things that are enjoyable to you and try not to let this process consume you. Read more, hang out with friends more, cook more, do the things that make you feel centered. I hope that these small tips can help make the process slightly more manageable. Good luck!
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