Sample Law School Application Schedule

You should begin preparing for admission to law school well before you apply. This schedule identifies several things to do at various stages. Appropriate adjustments may be made for those not planning to go directly from college to law school.

Fall of Junior Year or Sooner

• For those planning to go directly to law school after college.
• Consult various resources in order to decide whether or not a career in law is appropriate for you.

Spring of Junior Year

• For those planning to go directly to law school after college.
• Get the Official Guide to US Law Schools.
• Register for the June LSAT (or wait to take it in October).
• Prepare for the LSAT.
• Subscribe to LSDAS (they will send your transcript and LSAT scores to the schools you request).

Summer

• Take the June LSAT (or wait to take it in October).
• Start drafting your personal statement.
• Think about whom you'll be asking for recommendations.
• Make a list of schools you'll be applying to, using as aids the grids from the Official Guide and MAPLA's Law School Admissions Profiles.
• Register for the October LSAT if you'll be taking that test.

Early Fall of the Year Before You Plan to Enroll in Law School

• Familiarize yourself with the applications as you receive them.
• Make a checklist and schedule for each application, and photocopy all forms.
• Send transcript request forms to all undergraduate and graduate schools you've attended.
• Line up your recommendation writers. Give them the specific information they will need to write a letter of recommendation for you.
• Revise your personal statement. Tailor it to specific essay topics, if any, on individual applications.

Mid-Fall

• Finalize your personal statements.
• Transfer application information from the photocopies to the actual application forms.
• Check on the status of letters of recommendation.
• Take the October LSAT (for those doing so).
• Send in your applications (make sure you don't mix up the mailings!).

Late Fall

• Check a final time on the status of letters of recommendation. Follow up with writers, if necessary.
• Get Master Law School Report from LSDAS, summarizing transcripts, etc.

Winter, Spring, Summer

• Receive monthly updates from LSDAS.
• Wait for letters of acceptance from law schools.
• Decide which offer, if any, to accept.
• Send in acceptance.
• Apply for financial aid, if eligible.

The Following Fall

• Start your first semester of law school.