A Month-By-Month Guide to Law School Admissions

All long-term goals require a master plan, and applying to law school is no exception. The law school admissions process takes months, during which applicants scramble to prepare for the LSAT and compile application materials while still managing their other responsibilities. Whether you are a college student, recent graduate, or making a career transition, here is a calendar year breakdown of the law school application process.

Of course, the specific sequence and timing of each element may vary from applicant to applicant. But since law school applications are rolling, getting off-track can decrease your odds of getting in.

April

Applying to law school can be a big undertaking, so commit yourself to your goal as early as you can. Spring is usually a good time for preliminary research and LSAT practice. 

To stay motivated when the going gets tough, make a comprehensive list of reasons you want to apply for law school. That will help you avoid second-guessing your decisions later. Weigh the benefits of law school against its cost and make sure it aligns with your career goals; this is a major investment of time and money.

If you are still in college, focus on getting a good GPA in your final semester and obtaining good letters of recommendation. Line up summer plans that will enhance your resume. If you are in the workforce, think ahead to how you can set aside time consistently for LSAT practice and essay writing.

May

The start of summer is a good time to focus on your LSAT. Create a study strategy to give yourself at least several weeks to prepare for the test, ideally a few months.

If you start preparing for the LSAT in late May, you should have three months to improve your performance on the LSAT before late summer. I advise registering for your preferred test dates as early as possible, as the most popular dates tend to fill up rapidly.

[Next Read: How to Study (and Not Study) for the LSAT]

June

By June, you should have a clear sense of the challenges you face on the LSAT and a plan in place to tackle them. You should focus on consistent practice to build a solid test-taking strategy and shore up your weaknesses.

Register for an account on the LSAC Credential Assembly Service (CAS), a centralized hub for submitting law school application materials. Submit a request for transcripts from all institutions you attended, including summer classes or study-abroad programs.

July

Now that LSAT exams are offered almost every month in recent times, you do not have to structure your schedule around specific test dates. However, you should factor in enough time to retake the test if necessary. 

Targeting a July or August test date will give you ample time to keep backup dates before the application deadline. Law schools will accept your application without an LSAT score, but it will not be considered until those scores are received, typically three weeks after the test date.

August

By August, you should polish up your resume and tailor it according to your law school. Compile a list of target law schools that balances safety and midrange schools as well as some more ambitious targets, based on your LSAT scores and GPA.

Late August is a good time to contact your professors or employers via email for letters of recommendation as they finish up summer vacation. Give them a few weeks to submit their recommendation letters. You can give them clear instructions and suggestions for their content, but avoid writing the letters yourself.

[Next Read: Building a Target List of Law Schools That Are the Right Fit]

September

Shift your focus to your resume and personal statement, which are your primary opportunities to make your best case for success in law school and beyond. Start working on your personal statement as early as you can so that you have ample time to make revisions and get feedback from experienced seniors or mentors. 

Update your resume to reflect any recent changes. Law school resumes can stretch to two pages, but write concisely to keep the spotlight on the most critical information. Tailor your bullet points to be active, specific and demonstrative of high performance.

Most law schools open their applications by the end of September. Read each application carefully because the essay prompts or questions might differ from year to year. Law school applications tend to be fairly similar, but requirements may vary along with the degree of detail requested on qualifications and issues of character and fitness.

Check the personal statement instructions for each law school. Some schools are more strict than others about font and margin size. Some schools allow three or more pages, but most impose a limit of two double-spaced pages.

If you plan to write a diversity statement, tackle that along with any optional or required supplemental essays, such as a prompt about why you are applying to that school. 

October

By October, you should have your personal statement and other applications complete. Some applicants might want to write an addendum to explain something like a discrepancy in their academic record, an LSAT score variance of ten or more points, an academic discontinuity, or a disciplinary issue. Be sure to keep the addendum brief and professional to avoid diverting time from the personal statement and resume.

Law schools require at least two recommendation letters, at least one of which should be from a professor. Because recommendation letters are out of an applicant's hands, they cannot be rushed. Check in with writers of any outstanding recommendations to confirm the deadline and ask if they would like any more guidance. After recommendation letters are submitted, be sure to thank the writers. 

Keep an application checklist to ensure that you do not miss anything. More and more law schools are now offering binding early decision options, but even if you do not choose to apply early decision, you should submit your application early for your best chances of admission. 

[Next Read: How to Write a Great Addendum For Your Law School Application]

November

Each law school application can take more time than expected due to extra questions and essays, so leave time to give all your applications individual attention. Before submission, double-check each application to avoid careless mistakes. 

Once all of your application materials are complete, proofread them carefully. Law is a detail-oriented profession, after all. Put your name and LSAC number on each written document in case they are misplaced, and convert documents to PDF files for readability. Make sure to name any school-specific versions of documents to avoid the embarrassment of sending a carefully crafted essay to the wrong school.

Confirm on CAS that all written materials, recommendation letters, and academic transcripts have been uploaded. Once your applications are ready to go, send them in promptly and give yourself a hand; applying to law school is an achievement in itself!

December

If you have any unsubmitted applications remaining by December, submit them as soon as you can. While final deadlines are generally scheduled for late winter or early spring, your chances of admission decrease as the year draws to a close.

If you have any questions about the process or need to update your application, you can send a brief and polite email to effect the necessary changes. Avoid frequent or redundant emails.

[Next Read: What to Send Law Schools After You Apply, from Updates to Letters of Continued Interest]

The Next Year

Applicants usually hear back from schools within six weeks, and should have all responses in hand by March or April. The decision timeline may vary according to the date of your application submission and other factors, and a long wait does not imply an unfavorable decision.

If any schools offer you an interview, be sure to practice and prepare questions to ask. If a school requests an update or puts you on a waitlist, send a letter of continued interest. If you receive competing offers, consider negotiating your scholarship. 

Once you choose a law school, you should use the summer ahead of your law school classes to get settled and prepare for the challenges of the first year of law school. Congratulations—you have successfully started your journey to become a lawyer!